23 January 2019
A new best practice manual developed in collaboration with Plant & Food Research, Vegetable Research & Innovation (VR) Board and the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand (FANZ) will help commercial vegetable growers and consultants make
well-informed nutrient management decisions both financially and environmentally.
Guidelines in “Nutrient Management for Vegetable Crops in New Zealand” are drawn from published and unpublished research
from the past three decades in New Zealand and overseas, providing industry with recommendations on the nutrient
requirements of major vegetable crops grown nationally.
Crops covered in the guidelines include: beans, beetroot, brassicas, carrots, lettuce, onions, peas, potatoes, spinach,
squash, sweet corn and process tomatoes.
This book builds on the last comprehensive summary, “Nutrient Requirements of Horticultural Crops”, released in 1986 by
Clarke et al. The new guidelines have been developed to help growers get the best out of their crops and money spent on
nutrients, while addressing growing concerns about the environmental impacts of intensive production practices. The
book, along with a companion volume that offers more detail and references, provides a scientific basis for good
management of nutrients.
The new guidelines were written collaboratively by Plant & Food Research Principal Scientist Dr Jeff Reid and Jeff Morton from MortonAg, with support from a working group
consisting of Plant & Food Research scientists and experts from the major fertiliser companies and industry groups. Major funders include the
VR Board and FANZ. The project was also supported by the Plant & Food Research Strategic Science Investment Fund. A series of follow-up extension events are being planned for the
regions where vegetable production is a major land use.
Electronic versions of the book and companion volume are available via the DoI website here:
* Nutrient management for vegetable crops in New Zealand (https://plantandfood.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b46d14e528ad30bae8b3663c=d9be6a186a=5b367992d8)
* Nutrient management for vegetable crops in NZ – recommendations and supporting information (https://plantandfood.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b46d14e528ad30bae8b3663c=218c12b5a4=5b367992d8)
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