2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Source-separated municipal solid waste (SMSW) compost is increasingly available throughout Nova Scotia, Canada. Yet, how to effectively combine SMSW compost with soluble nitrogen (N) fertilizer for day-neutral strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) production has not been determined. The objective of this study was to identify optimal SMSW compost (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 Mg Fresh Mass ha^-1; Dry Matter: 48.3%) and fertigation (25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended N rate) rates to maximize fruit yield in a two-year strawberry plasticulture production system in Kingston, Nova Scotia. The day-neutral cultivar ‘Albion’ was grown. In the late season of year-one, marketable fruit yield was 14 and 27% greater in response to the 10 than 0 Mg ha^-1 SMSW compost rate (P < 0.01) and 100 than 25% fertigation rate (P = 0.055), respectively. The 2.5 Mg ha^-1 SMSW compost and 100% fertigation rate total fruit yield was 8% greater than the 10 Mg ha^-1 SMSW compost and 75% fertigation rate (P < 0.05). Fertigation could be reduced to 25% until late-August in year one and be increased to 100% to the end of season and the first half of year-two, and then reduced to 75% for the remainder of the second year. The SMSW compost should be applied at 10 Mg Fresh Mass ha^-1 to optimize fruit yield. The SMSW compost can synergistically supplement soluble N fertilizers and increase fruit yields for day-neutral strawberry plasticulture in Nova Scotia, Canada.