Lobster Processing Waste For Nutrition And Disease Control In Potatoes And Carrots

R. D. Peters¹*, K.R. Sanderson¹, T.L. Gallant¹, J.A. MacLeod¹ and A.V. Sturz².

Every year in the Maritimes, lobster processing waste requires disposal. Trials have been established at the Harrington Research Farm (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, PEI) and in commercial grower fields (Brookfield Gardens, Ltd., PEI) to determine the suitability of raw and composted lobster processing wastes as soil amendments in potato and carrot production. Potato yields from plots receiving raw lobster waste have been similar to or greater than those for control plots receiving synthetic fertilizer. In addition, the severity of black scurf, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, has been significantly (P=0.05) lower on tubers from plots receiving raw lobster waste than on tubers from other treatments in some years. In carrots, white mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, was prevalent on stalks and in roots of carrots harvested from plots receiving chemical fertilizer, but was absent in all other treatments, including those plots receiving lobster waste. Raw and composted lobster wastes used as soil amendments have also been shown to alter microbial populations in favour of those that have chitinolytic and antibiotic activity against soil-borne pathogens. More research is needed to explore the full potential of seafood wastes as a source of potato nutrition and control of diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens, particularly for organic production systems.


Source
2nd OACC Organic Research Workshop, Presented in association with the Organic Connections: Prairie Wide Organic Conference and Trade Show, November 14-16th, 2004


Author Locations & Affiliations
(1) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Charlottetown, PEI. *Correspondence: petersr@agr.gc.ca
(2) PEI Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Charlottetown, PEI.


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