Influence of Soil and Nutrient Management on Growth and Quality of Collards

Abstract

<jats:p>High temperature and humidity during summer months in the southeastern U.S., in addition to crop nutritional status, are suggested to be the primary reasons for tipburn incidence in collards (<jats:italic>Brassica oleracea</jats:italic> Acephala Group) adversely affecting their marketability. A 2-year study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of grower's standard practice (GSP), GSP + gypsum, and a programmed-release fertilizer (PRF) under conventional and deep tillage on collard yield and tipburn incidence. Subsoiling significantly increased yield over conventional tillage. Nutrient supply through PRF did not increase the yields; however, it resulted in either similar or higher levels of macro- and micronutrient levels both in soils and collard tissue compared to GSP and GSP + gypsum treatments. The occurrence of tipburn in collards is dependent on several factors, including nutritional, physiological, and environmental stresses. Regression analyses of tipburn ratings at harvest time and the soil and tissue nutrient content suggested that 47% of the variation could be attributed to soil and tissue levels of sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), and phosphorus (P). It is important, therefore, to ensure an optimum supply of nutrients to the plants to maintain the quality of the yields. The advantage of PRF in sandy soils, and identification of other factors affecting the tipburn in collards should be further investigated.</jats:p>