EVALUATION OF LAYER LITTER RATES AS A FERTILIZER FOR GREENHOUSE STRAWBERRY AND LETTUCE

Laying hen litter [3.4% nitrogen (N), 0.86% phosphorus (P), 15% water (H2O)] as a fertilizer was evaluated in greenhouse production of straw berry (Fragaria ananassa Duch. cv. Oso Grande) and cos-lettuce (Lactuc a sativa L. cv. Amanthus). Litter was preplant soil incorporated at 7 (R1) and 14 (R2) ton ha(-1), and compared to ammonium nitrate (AN) (34 -0-0) and an unfertilized (control) treatments. Rates of AN were at 15 0 kg N ha(-1) for strawberry, in eight split applications, and 100 kg N hs' for lettuce, in two split applications. Preplant soil levels (mg kg(-1)) of NO3-N and P(H2O sol.) were 80 and 5.5, respectively (straw berry), and 91 and 6.8, respectively (lettuce). Strawberry yield was h ighest in R2 with all fertilized treatments yielding higher than the c ontrol. Leaf phosphorus (P) was comparable in all treatments, with R2 giving the highest P content. Lettuce yield was comparable in all trea tments. Leaf NO3-N was higher in all fertilized treatments than the co ntrol and leaf P was comparable among all treatments. The lower rate o f litter is recommended as it is equally effective to AN and the highe r litter rate.