Biofertilizer derived from dairy manure increases raspberry fruit weight and leaf magnesium concentration

Abstract

Dairy manure is often readily available in the area where the processed red raspberry industry is concentrated. The successful transformation of raw dairy manure waste to a valuable organic-derived fertilizer could alleviate environment threats and provide multiple soil health benefits. The value of raw dairy manure could be enhanced through new technologies that composts, blends, and pelletizes manure into a concentrated form. However, the potential benefits of this alternative manure-derived fertilizer have not been characterized in any commercial crop. The objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of composted, blended, and pelletized manure (i.e., CBP) on raspberry growth and production. Treatments of urea and CBP fertilizers blended with 10% and 20% (w/w) canola meal were surface applied at low and high rates (56 and 90 kg N ha−1, respectively) to an established ‘Meeker’ raspberry field 2020 and 2021 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant growth and productivity variables were analyzed. The utilization of CBP with 20% or 10% canola meal enhanced fruit weight and leaf magnesium concentration compared to urea, respectively. CBP fertilizers decreased leaf manganese concentration more than urea. There were no other fertilizer source treatment effects for all other measured variables. Additionally, there were no fertilizer rate effects for total yield, fruit quality, plant growth, and leaf nutrient concentrations. Based on the results, CBP fertilizer did not compromise plant growth and productivity relative to urea and could be an alternative to conventional fertilizer .