Compost of bulb flower material applied on bulb flower land
Bulb growers are often reluctant to use compost from material originating from their own company. They are afraid of bringing in diseases and weeds. Delphy performed a trial in 2020 and 2021 to investigate the effects of compost application on bulb fields.
The input material for the composting process was coming from an organic grower. After the composting process, the compost was applied on tulip and hyacinth fields. To control the process, the input streams were analysed for diseases before and after the composting process. The DAN analysis before the composting process showed specific bulb diseases. In the end product, the compost, no bacteria and fungi were detected.
The next step was the application of the compost in the cultivation of tulip and hyacinth. In the trial crop vitality, incidence of diseases (Fusarium) and harvest were measured. The hyacinth ‘Pink Pearl’ and tulips ‘Strong gold’ and ‘Parade’ showed no significant difference in number of vital plants between control and compost treatment. In October, ‘Parade’ showed even some shift towards larger bulbs by using compost.
Organic material from the flower bulb industry is great material to enhance soil quality. And is safe to use, as long as the composting process is done properly.
