Effect of Poultry Manure on Strawberry Fruiting Response, Soil Nutrient Changes, and Leaching1

Abstract

Abstract Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were grown for 3 seasons on a well-drained fine sand which received 0, 4.5, 9, 18, and 36 metric tons (MT)/ha of poultry manure annually. Fruit yields increased each season with increased rates of manure up to 18 MT/ha. The 36 MT/ha rate caused a foliage burn during the first 3 seasons which may have reduced yields. Considerable leaching of the soluble nutrients from manure to and below the 60-cm soil depth occurred from season to season. Analyses of saturated soil extracts indicated that concentrations of soluble salts, K, and NO3–N increased with increasing rates of manure at all 4 depths to 60 cm. The Ca, K, and Mg concentrations at all 4 soil depths increased with increased manure rates and generally decreased with depth. Organic matter content of the surface 15 cm of the soil increased with increased manure rate. Soil pH was only slightly affected by the manure treatments.