1997 Annual Report for FNC97-163
Composting for Disease Suppression
Summary
Utilizing composted manure in crop production can have a positive effect on soil quality, disease suppression and yield.
Objective: To determine the importance of the composting process and composting ingredients on the effectiveness of compost in the production of winter radish and turnips, which had a history of disease occurring in storage.
Methods: Test plots were established to compare composted goat manure, composted cow manure, and commercial fertilizer. Ten tons of compost per acre, and the equivalent nutrient amount of NPK on the commercial fertilizer plots, was applied prior to seeding the crucifers.
Results: Early data revealed a strong favorable response from the compost treatments with compost trials outperforming fertilizer plots by 10 percent, which increased returns from winter radish by $750 per acre.
North Central Region SARE 1998 Annual Report.