Machine that Bands Compost Shows Promise in Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.) and Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

An application machine capable of applying fine organic materials in bands under the soil surface has been developed by the USDA National Soil Dynamics Laboratory. In 2013, we teamed up to test the machine for the first time on vegetable fields. For these trials, sweet corn and tomatoes were grown using standard local practices, except that plots received one of four initial fertilizer application treatments: no pre-plant fertilizer, banding composted chicken (Gallus gallus) broiler litter (CBL) below and to the side of the planting row, broadcasting CBL to the rows or bed tops prior to final bedding; or broadcasting a balanced synthetic fertilizer in a similar way. All plots received later side-dressing as calcium nitrate through drip irrigation. Excavation revealed distinct CBL bands below and to the side of the rows as expected. Corn ear length was significantly shorter in the unfertilized controls. SPAD readings were also lower in these plots on June 28, but not at harvest on July 29. Analysis of the number of marketable ears, and the width and mean weight of these ears revealed no other significant difference among treatments. Tomato yield parameters were similar in all treatments except the unfertilized control, where measured yield and quality attributes were lower. Data from this first year indicates that banding organic materials may be a way of achieving yields comparable to those achieved with broadcasting and incorporating compost or synthetic fertilizer. The study also shows that the organic materials banding machine has potential to successfully apply organic materials as bands to the side of a vegetable crop row. This study is being repeated in 2014 with additional emphasis on soil and tissue nutrient status.