Effect of Green Manure and Poultry Manure on Yield and Fruit Quality in Organic Greenhouse Tomato Production

In this study, the effects of green manure and green manure + poultry manure were investigated on organic greenhouse tomato production grown after head lettuce production between 2005 and 2007. As green manure (1) Soybean (Gylcine max. L. Merr.), (2) cowpea (Vigna sinensis L) and (3) maize (Zea mays) were used. Half of the plots received certified poultry manure at 0.75 ton da^-1. Total yield changed between 10.0 and 12.7 kg m^-2, and 6.35 and 9.85 kg m^-2 in the first and second years respectively. Green manure + poultry manure treatments resulted in higher soil fertility and nitrate content in plants. At the end of growing season green manure + poultry manure treatments resulted in higher soil organic matter content than control in the first and second years (26.22% and 10.40%, respectively). Similarly, nitrogen content was higher than control in the first and second years (13.41% and 36.67%, respectively). The results showed that green manure applications gave satisfactory results, even without poultry manure applications.