2011 Compost application in potatoe planting

The soil borne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani is of increasing importance since organic seed potatoes are compulsory in organic potato production. No convincing measure to control the disease is available for organic production. Since 2006 the effect of a suppressive compost mixture of organic household and yard waste to control diseases in potatoes and legumes was tested in an organic field trial at the University Kassel. The compost was directly applied at the seed tuber area. The reduction of both the infestation of harvested potatoes with black scurf and the rate of tubers with deformations and dry core was significant at final harvest. These promising results encourage increasing the research on a development of a strip application technique of composts to control the disease. The more precise composts are applied at the site of action the more effective they are as shown in potatoes to control Rhizoctonia solani with an in-furrow application of composts compared to broadcast application. Similar effects were achieved in peas. Therefore, dosage technics were developed for the use in potato planters and sowing machines for grain legumes. It was shown with defined composts (yard waste composts with size fraction <10 mm, 30-40 % moisture content w.b.) that the developed tools will provide exact longitudinal (cv = 8.03 %) and lateral application (cv = 24.35 %). The involved partner from the industry are making the innovative dosage machinery available for the farmers.

Poster

Reihenapplikation von Komposten zur Kontrolle bodenbürtiger
Krankheiten – technische Lösungen für Kartoffeln und
Körnerleguminosen - Beitrag zur 12. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau 2013

Reihenapplikation von Komposten im Kartoffelbau - Anforderungen an die Gerätetechnik aus Kartoffelbau 4/2011 (62 Jg.) pp 42-45

partner : Fa. Grimme

responsible : Björn Bohne