On-farm evaluation of the yield and nutrient content of high-altitude-profit-oriented leafy vegetable fields in Central Japan
Paper Details
On-farm evaluation of the yield and nutrient content of high-altitude-profit-oriented leafy vegetable fields in Central Japan
Abstract
High altitude leafy vegetable cultivation in profit-oriented fields in Japan are abundantly fertilized and characterized by plastic mulching. Our goal was to evaluate the close link between soil nutrient amendment, yield and nutrient uptake of three leafy vegetable production systems of small and middle scale producers characterized by an array of farm management practices. A participatory methodology using questionnaires together with on-farm and homestead discussions and observations were employed to obtained information about the farm management practices. Plant sampling was carried out at harvest and analyzed using standard methods. Results showed that yields for the same crop from high-nutrient input cropping system (B) was not significantly different (p > 0.05) to that of low-nutrient input systems (A, C and AFC). However, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in terms of nutrient content of the harvested parts indicating excess nutrient applied in high-nutrient input cropping systems. In addition, more of N, K, Ca and Mg taken up were left in the system as residues after harvest than was taken out in the form of harvested farm produce. P content of the harvested part was greater than that in the crop residue. Harvesting methods were not uniform (time, crop residue) resulting in some significant differences between nutrient content of the harvested parts and crop residues indicating that farm management practices may not necessarily result to any significant gain in yields but may lead to significant differences in the nutrient content.
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