Comparison of Standard Soil Amendments and Calcined Clay on Crop Yields in an Urban Garden at the University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina

UNCA Author/Contributor (non-UNCA co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Page Johnston, Student (Creator)
Institution
University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA )
Web Site: http://library.unca.edu/
Advisor
David Clarke

Abstract: Implementation of amended soils at the Rhoades Property Garden, a campus garden of the University of North Carolina Asheville was investigated for greater land use efficiency and increase of plant growth. Calcined clay arestable soil amendments that improve soil quality through increased cation exchange capacity, increased microbial activity, nutrient retention, and water holding capacity all of which increase plant yield. Two calcined clay amended beds (one constructed the year prior and one newly built) and one standard soil (control) bed were planted with comparable planting schemes of eggplant (Solanum melongena), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum), and tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) and received the same amendments, pruning, and watering. Summer harvest yields were calculated for total fruit volume and mass, as well as root mass per bed. Data wereanalyzed using SAS, ANOVA, paired T-tests and a Tukey post-hoc test. Significant difference in mean eggplant yield as measured by harvest date was found (p=0.0182). Comparisons of volume/mass per vegetable and among variety of vegetable were insignificant. The experiment will be extended to test for statistically significant differencein production and to include biochar.

Additional Information

Publication
Other
UNC Asheville - Journal of Undergraduate Research
Language: English
Date: 2014
Keywords
land use, calcined clay, soil science, campus gardens

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