UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Monahan, Susan A.
Dept./Program:
Plant and Soil Science
Year:
2010
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
In Vermont and the region, meeting the demands of the thriving local foods movement requires not only an increase in the supply of local wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), but a more thorough understanding of agronomic management practices that yield high quality wheat for bread use. The objective ofthis research was to understand how different sources of nitrogen fertility within organic farming systems affect productivity and breadmaking quality of hard red winter wheat. Field trials were initiated in fall 2007 and repeated in 2008 on Windsor loamy sand at the Horticultural Research Center in South Burlington, VT and On Kingsbury clay at the Cornell Baker Research Farm in Willsboro, NY. A randomized split block design with four replications was used at each site.
Three cultivars of hard red winter wheat, Harvard, Maxine, and Zorro, were compared within eight fertility treatments, including green manure cover crops, animal manures, a soluble organic fertilizer, plus a control. Fertility treatments included dairy manure compost, fall or spring applied chicken manure compost, fall or spring applied fresh dairy manure, split applications of Chilean nitrate (16-0-0) applied in the fall and either pre-anthesis and/or post-anthesis, green manures of soybeans (Glycine max L.), a mix of oats, peas, vetch (Avena sativa L., Pisum sativum L., Vicia sativa L.), and a mix of rye and red clover (Secale cereale L., Trifolium pratense L.). Green manures were planted at the VT site only. In 2007-2008 in South Burlington, there was an inverse relationship between yield and protein.
Soybean, oats/peas/vetch, and cow manure were the highest yielding treatments but had lower protein levels than the control. Overall, the nitrogen status of the soil at the South Burlington site was deficient, and additional nitrogen from the organic fertility treatments increased yields but decreased protein. The nitrogen fertility sources did not affect yield in Willsboro either year. However, in 2008-2009, protein levels were higher from the spring application of chicken manure and Chilean nitrate. We found that the initial nitrogen status of the soil is important for increasing yield or protein. On nitrogen deficient soils, such as those at the S. Burlington site, additional N from organic fertility amendments increased yield. On nitrogen sufficient soils, such as those at the Willsboro site, additional N increased protein.
Three cultivars of hard red winter wheat, Harvard, Maxine, and Zorro, were compared within eight fertility treatments, including green manure cover crops, animal manures, a soluble organic fertilizer, plus a control. Fertility treatments included dairy manure compost, fall or spring applied chicken manure compost, fall or spring applied fresh dairy manure, split applications of Chilean nitrate (16-0-0) applied in the fall and either pre-anthesis and/or post-anthesis, green manures of soybeans (Glycine max L.), a mix of oats, peas, vetch (Avena sativa L., Pisum sativum L., Vicia sativa L.), and a mix of rye and red clover (Secale cereale L., Trifolium pratense L.). Green manures were planted at the VT site only. In 2007-2008 in South Burlington, there was an inverse relationship between yield and protein.
Soybean, oats/peas/vetch, and cow manure were the highest yielding treatments but had lower protein levels than the control. Overall, the nitrogen status of the soil at the South Burlington site was deficient, and additional nitrogen from the organic fertility treatments increased yields but decreased protein. The nitrogen fertility sources did not affect yield in Willsboro either year. However, in 2008-2009, protein levels were higher from the spring application of chicken manure and Chilean nitrate. We found that the initial nitrogen status of the soil is important for increasing yield or protein. On nitrogen deficient soils, such as those at the S. Burlington site, additional N from organic fertility amendments increased yield. On nitrogen sufficient soils, such as those at the Willsboro site, additional N increased protein.