Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 7.8
Capsicum yields for the two capsicum crops grown at the field trial for the farmers prac-
tice (FP), compost (C), and mixed (M) treatments. Crop 4 was the fourth crop following the first
compost application, while crop 6 was the first crop following the repeat compost application. The
perceived maximum crop yield of 40 t ha
−1
(Bartha
1983
) is presented as a dashed line
In summary, the lessons gained from the yield and economic data on these crops
were; (a) that certain crops are more responsive than others to improvements in soil
quality, (b) it is important to work out which crops are responsive and which are
not, (c) that it is important to plant responsive crops early in the cropping sequence
following compost amendments in order to maximise yield benefits, especially if
the responsive crops are high value crops, (d) that yield responses from responsive
crops may be greater following repeat applications of compost than they were ini-
tially following the first application, possibly due to enhanced response by soil mi-
crobiology, as observed in the CROA experiment, and (e) that alternative vegetable
production systems based on significant inputs of compost can be an economical
alternative to conventional systems based on chicken manure and synthetic inor-
ganic fertilizers.
7.3.2
Impact of Composts on Soil Quality
Soil quality includes the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil
which together influence soil function which is vital for sustainable agriculture.
Improving soil quality is very important for maintaining and improving food pro-
duction from agricultural land.
