Abstract

Six organic sources of nutrients including commercial organic fertilizer (CF), poultry litter (PL), green compost (GC), wood chips (WC), shredded paper (SP), grass clippings (GR), and extracts from water (NF, as a control) were investigated under controlled conditions. One-year-old MM.106 apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) trees grown under greenhouse conditions in 10 L pots were treated with nutrient solutions. All treatments were applied proportionally based on the volume ratio of material recommended for organic apple orchard field production. A nutrient solution from GC provided the greatest total nitrogen (N) input over the 12-week experimental period, followed in order by the GR, PL, WC, CF, SP, and NF treatments. The PL- and GR-treated plants had the largest stem diameter, largest leaf area, longest stem extension, and fastest dry matter production rate, as well as greater carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation, SPAD readings, N accumulation, and N use efficiency.

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