2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Using local resources and minimizing environmental impacts are two important components of sustainable agriculture. Meat and bone meal (MBM), or tankage, is an attractive locally available organic fertilizer because of its relatively high nitrogen content (9-10%). This experiment was conducted to investigate the response of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata Stuart.) and nitrate concentrations to application rates and timing of MBM in two locations, Waimānalo and Poamoho. The objectives were to determine effects of application rates and timing on: 1) sweet corn growth, yield and quality and 2) soil water nitrate concentrations within and below the root zone. Experimental design was Split-Plot RCBD with four replicates. Growth, yield and relative leaf chlorophyll content of sweet corn increased with increasing application rates (P <0.05) in both locations. Timing of application was not significant for any growth or yield parameters measured in Waimānalo. By contrast in Poamoho, yield was significantly greater (13.6%, P <0.05) from preplant versus split application. Although timing of application was not significant for NO₃-N below the root zone at either location, N losses were numerically lower by ~20% at Waimānalo and ~40% at Poamoho when applied as split compared to preplant. These findings suggest that MBM is an effective fertilizer for sweet corn and split application of MBM may reduce potential for groundwater pollution.