In 2015 the first year of this multi-year experiment took place at the University of Maine's Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station: Highmoor Farm located in Monmouth Maine. The experimental treatments involved combinations of, pre-plant N (bloodmeal), compost N, and side dressed N (bloodmeal). These were applied with rates of 40, 80, 120, and 160 lbs of N Acre-1. Compost was applied at three rates: 13, 26, and 40 yd3 Acre-1 either by banding over the planting row or broadcasting across the bed. Applications were incorporated using a yeoman plow. 'Honey Bear' a small bush type acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo) was grown.
There was a linear relationship between increasing N Acre-1 and fruit number, fruit weight, and stem biomass. However, yields from plots receiving N from only compost did not have significant differences between the 13, 26, and 40 yd3 Acre-1 treatments. The nitrogen source and application timing influenced yield; yield of plots receiving 40 lbs of N supplied by compost was significantly different from 40 lbs of N supplied by pre-plant fert. Likewise, yield from plots with a total of 80 lbs of N from compost was significantly greater than from plots with a total of 80 lbs of N with only pre-plant and side dressed N. A similar trend appears to take place in other treatments with a total N of 120 and 160 lbs Acre-1. There appears to be no difference in whether the compost was banded or broadcasted in the experimental plots.
This experiment is being funded by the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (O.R.E.I) and is being replicated by Cornell University at Freeville, and Riverhead, Long Island, New York.
Key words: compost, reduced till, fertility, organic