Dried swine lagoon solids as a fertilizer for field production of vegetables and fresh cut herbs

<p>As a local source of nutrients, swine lagoon solids (SLS) may be an ideal fertilizer for vegetable and fresh cut herb production in North Carolina. To test the utility of SLS as a fertilizer for vegetable and fresh cut herb production, two trials were conducted. A warm season trial (May to August of 2016) evaluated growth of seven species and a second, cool season trial (August to December of 2016) evaluated growth of five species. Two nitrogen (N) rates (89.7kg and 44.9 kg N per ha) were supplied by either dried SLS, a commercially available composted turkey litter (TL), or an inorganic control fertilizer (CON). Yields of tomato, cantaloupe, and eggplant and the fresh weights of basil and mint fertilized with SLS were equivalent to the yields of these species fertilized with CON. In contrast, yield of red and green butterhead lettuce was reduced when the SLS were utilized compared to the CON. The SLS produced similar fresh weights of basil compared to the TL, while the mint produced more fresh weight with the SLS when compared to the TL. Growth of dill, oregano, cabbage, chives, and fennel were not affected by rate or source of nutrients.</p>