Plant Soil Environ., 2014, 60(6):267-273 | DOI: 10.17221/66/2014-PSE

Impact of slurry on the hop (Humulus lupulus L.) yield, its quality and N-min content of the soilOriginal Paper

B. Čeh

Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing, Žalec, Slovenia

The aim of this investigation was to answer if cattle slurry can replace mineral fertiliser calcium ammonium nitrate for hop (Humulus lupulus L.) side-dressings, and if it is suitable to be applied after hop harvest, and also show its impact on N-min content of the soil. Cattle slurry was a more appropriate fertiliser for the second and the third hop side-dressings in the investigated years (2010-2012), which were characterised by a lower than average amount of rainfall and higher temperatures, especially in June and in the first half of July. Despite the lower amount of plant-available nitrogen in the cattle slurry (which contains also other nutrients and water), the yield of hop cones and the yield of alpha-acids were significantly higher, the NO₃^--N content in the cones was lower, and the N-min in the soil was lower. N-min analyses are urgent, at least in years with uncommon precipitation patterns, to make decisions about subsequent side-dressings. The weather conditions had a significant impact on the yield and the NO₃^--N content of the hop cones but not on the alpha-acid content.

Keywords: fertilisation; cattle slurry; mineral nitrogen; alpha-acid content; plant-available nitrogen

Published: June 30, 2014  Show citation