Enhancing Red Currant Berry Quality through Fertilization Using Compost from Municipal Sludge and from Vegetal Waste

Abstract

Adding compost to the soil is an ecological and economical approach to providing the nutrients needed to support crops, improve soil characteristics, and increase the orchard’s durability. Over three years, at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania, data regarding the influence of fertilization with municipal sludge and vegetal origin compost (MSVOC, 20 and 40 t ha−1 doses) and vegetal origin compost (VOC, 30 and 40 t ha−1 doses) on berry quality at ‘Jonker Van Tets’ red currant cv. Were recorded. Berry dry matter, soluble solids, sugar, titratable acidity, vitamin C, phenolic, and anthocyanin content are discussed. The correlations between berry quality indicators with climatic factors (temperatures and sunshine hours) and soil chemical characteristics are discussed. Strong correlations have been identified between anthocyanins, vitamin C, and phenolics with average temperature, maximum temperature, and sunshine hours in April. Except for Fe and Mn, berry phenolics were negatively correlated with all other soil quality indicators. In the third after the application, the results indicated that VOC 40 t ha−1 had a beneficial effect, increasing berry weight, and TTA, while VOC 30 t ha−1 significantly increased DW, TTA, and vitamin C content. Therefore, vegetal origin compost can be used as fertilizer in the sustainable growth of red currants.