Organic Fertilizers for Greenhouse Crop Production

Authors: Liz Perkus, Justin Carlson, Carl Rosen, Mary Rogers, Julie Grossman, Joanne Slavin, John Erwin

Organic, locally produced fruit and vegetables are in demand and greenhouse production can improve quality of produce, meet consumer needs, and increase grower profitability. This is of particular interest in northern climates with a narrow window for field production. Organic fertility amendments require some microbial breakdown before nutrients become available.  There is much research on organic fertility in field production systems but less in greenhouse settings, leaving growers without recommendation and guidelines. From a production and environmental standpoint, we need to increase our understanding of microbial breakdown rates and nutrient mineralization from organic fertilizers for containerized fruit and vegetable crops in greenhouses and how this impacts plant growth and crop quality. Our research shows a crop x fertilizer response to commonly available organic fertility sources and will result in crop-specific recommendations for greenhouse producers.