Dried swine lagoon solids as a fertilizer for field production of vegetables and fresh cut herbs

As a local source of nutrients, swine lagoon solids (SLS) may be an ideal
fertilizer for vegetable and fresh cut herb production in North Carolina.
To test the utility of SLS as a fertilizer for vegetable and fresh cut
herb production, two trials were conducted. A warm season trial (May to
August of 2016) evaluated growth of seven species and a second, cool
season trial (August to December of 2016) evaluated growth of five
species. Two nitrogen (N) rates (89.7kg and 44.9 kg N per ha) were
supplied by either dried SLS, a commercially available composted turkey
litter (TL), or an inorganic control fertilizer (CON). Yields of tomato,
cantaloupe, and eggplant and the fresh weights of basil and mint
fertilized with SLS were equivalent to the yields of these species
fertilized with CON. In contrast, yield of red and green butterhead
lettuce was reduced when the SLS were utilized compared to the CON. The
SLS produced similar fresh weights of basil compared to the TL, while the
mint produced more fresh weight with the SLS when compared to the TL.
Growth of dill, oregano, cabbage, chives, and fennel were not affected by
rate or source of nutrients.