Using Nutri-Wave Organic Fertilizer in an Organic Cropping System

Nutri – Wave pelletsCrumbs available too

Experimental Design• Study organic potato rotations• Compare 4 year rotations• Potatoes one year in four• Each rotation will have a second cash crop• Two green manure crops per rotation• Soil to be covered each fall• Apply fertility to the cash crop• Use Nutri-Wave as the fertility source

Field Plan - Rotations 1,2,3,4B. Mustard Canola Alfalfa P.MilletW. Rape Buckwheat Alfalfa Buckwheat#103 #102 #106 #101Potato Potato Potato PotatoFall Rye Fall Rye Fall Rye Fall Rye#110 #113 #111 #112Soybean Fall Rye Corn WheatW. Rape R. Clover R. Clover R. Clover#120 #124 #121 #118W. Rape R. Clover Alfalfa R. CloverBuckwheat R. Clover Alfalfa R. Clover#125 #131 #128 #127

Field Plan - Rotations 5,6,7,8Sudan grass Peas-Oats R. Clover R. CloverBuckwheat Stubble R. Clover R. Clover#108 #105 #107 #104Potato Potato Potato PotatoFall Rye Fall Rye Fall Rye Fall Rye#109 #114 #116 #115Canola P.Millet Barley BarleyVolunteers Stubble R. Clover R. Clover#123 #119 #117 #122Oil Radish Carrot R. Clover R. CloverOil Radish Barley R. Clover R. Clover#126 #132 #130 #129

Cultivating Carrots July 13, 2010

Carrots – Oct 2010

Green Manure used for Soil borne disease suppressionCanola

Green Manure – suppresses soil nematodesPearl Millet - late fall

Organic Corn2010 2009Cold wet spring hard to get good germinationRequires good fertility and weed control to achieve an acceptable yieldApplied fertility to achieve 100 units of Nitrogen

Corn - 2010July 12Sept 15

Soybeans• Organic soybeans are a valuable crop• Like high organic matter soils, few sprays• Very susceptible to weed competition• Can equal the conventional yields if weedsmanaged• Make their own nitrogen if not enough in thesoil

Harvesting Soybeans - fall 2009Soybeans yielding 0.8 tonne/acre

Oats and Peas – July 1, 2010

Red Clover in the fall - green manure cropOne of more adapted green manure crop for regionSupplies up to 100 units of NitrogenEasily establishedSeed cheap

Nutri – Wave use in Potatoes• Analysis of 4 - 1 – 2• 4 lbs of Nitrogen per 100 lbs, 4 kg/100kg• 80 lbs N/ ton or 40 kg N /tonne• Price / tonne• 160 – 180 N to grow a crop of potatoes• ½ N available from Nuti – wave• Will need to find the remainder from othersources, greenmanure, soil, lightening

Potatoes – July 1, 2010

Potato Yields300250CWT / AC20015010050Rot 1Rot 2Rot 802008 2009 2010

Using Nurti - Wave• Will supply about half the fertility applied inthe year applied• Should be applied fall previous on a greenmanure or early in the spring when soil iswet – for maximum release• Will not release the fertility in a dry year verywell• Absorbs moisture and will not flow if damp

Thank – you !Thank-you !