Short Term Effects of Manure Fertilization in a Hazelnut Orchard in Northern Italy

Minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers in fruit growing is a target not just for integrated fruit production, but also to maintain a safe environment. To evaluate the possibility of application of swine manure instead of mineral fertilizers in hazelnut orchards, a trial has been carried out and the preliminary results after two years of trial are presented. The trial has been conducted in a hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) orchard in Cuneo province, following a randomized block design with three replications of the following treatments: slurry, covered slurry (incorporated in the soil), solid fraction, and mineral fertilization. A not fertilized thesis has been added as test, in order to quantify the effect of the different fertilization treatments above the existing nutrient content of the field. The quantity of fertilizing material required was calculated in order to reach the same nutrient value for all the treatments (80 kg N/ha, 30 kg P2O5/ha, 80 kg K2O/ha). The productivity of each replication was evaluated using an adapted fixed area plot sampling method. Results from both productive and qualitative parameters were analysed by ANOVA. The two years’ trial did not influence significantly the productive and qualitative parameters. Further trials will allow to confirm or not these preliminary results.