Effect of organic and green manuring on soil quality and plant nutrient uptake in organically grown strawberry

Evaluation of the relationships between the nutritional status of plants and soil productivity features together is important for more realistic and effective use of fertilizers and soil fertility management. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status, soil and plant analysis of strawberry plants organically grown under climatic conditions of Yumurtalik town of Adana, Turkey. The study was conducted between 2010 and 2012. In the trial; (1) cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.), and (2) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were used as green manuring crops; and one plot (3) was used as the control (plot where green fertilizer was not used and kept as fallow). Additionally, the effects of organic commercial compost material Ekoflora (N:P:K 1.5:2:2) and compost tea that was obtained from Ekoflora were also investigated on the split plots throughout the growing season. Green manure was used in the trial conducted as four replications as treatments (control, cowpea and bean) being the main plots and farm manure used as sub plots. Fresh strawberry seedlings of 'Sweet Charlie' cultivar were used in the trial. It was found that green manure + compost tea application increased organic matter, total nitrogen and available phosphorus and potassium contents of the soil and decreased available calcium and magnesium values. The organic matter (OM) content averaged to 2.32% in green manure applications, and organic matter average value of green manure + organic manure application was 2.38% revealing that average organic matter level was increased by 0.06%. The results showed that green manure applications gave satisfactory results, even without compost tea applications.This research is a part of the doctorate study entitled as “Effects of Green Manure Under Cover and Crop Rotation in Open Field on Organic Strawberry Growing” numbered ZF ?? ??D ? ? which was supported by Cukurova University cS cRieesnetaifrich Projects Unit