Do higher fertilization doses guarantee higher vegetable yield?

L. Lepse, S. Zeipiņa, M. Gailīte
Currently in regards to Green Deal policy, the main challenge in vegetable cultivation is to ensure high yield and quality using sustainable farming methods. Appropriate use of fertilizers in vegetable growing reduces production costs simultaneously increasing the nutrient content available in the soil to a level that optimally ensures plant growth and development. Thus, appropriate fertilizers doses and the use of green manure should be promoted in vegetable cultivation. To address the aforementioned challenges, in 2021, a study on vegetable fertilization efficiency was started in the frame of the project “Optimizing the fertilization of more widely grown field vegetables in Latvia to ensure sustainable growing technologies” financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Latvian Republic. The field trials were established in LatHort and in 10 farms widely spaced throughout Latvia, representing both integrated and organic growing systems. The four most widely grown field vegetables are included in the trials: cabbage, carrot, onion and red beet. The agrochemical nutrients content of soil and plants was determined, yield and plant biomass were measured in order to calculate nutrient balances. The amount of applied fertilizers was registered in order to calculate nutrient balance. The results obtained until now show the huge influence of soil and meteorological conditions of particular year on the yield outcome and nutrient balance. However, in many cases, no clear positive correlation is observed between the amount of fertilizers applied and yield outcome. Trials have continued to come up with clear recommendations for sustainable fertilization strategies for field vegetable production in agro-ecological conditions of Latvia.
Lepse, L., Zeipiņa, S. and Gailīte, M. (2025). Do higher fertilization doses guarantee higher vegetable yield?. Acta Hortic. 1416, 157-164
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.21
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.21
cabbage, carrot, onion, red beet, sustainable, integrated growing
English

Acta Horticulturae