Compost Fertilization in Organic Agriculture—A Comparison of the Impact on Corn Plants Using Field Spectroscopy

To protect the environment and reduce impact of fertilizing on climate change, a tailored fertilization according to needs plants becomes more important. In organic farming, main sources nitrogen (N) are fertilizers, such as compost farmyard manure. conventional agricultural systems, various plant sensors have already proven that they can guide efficient fertilization. Since these record growth biomass growth, also be used in farming detect influence fertilizers corn plants. field trial established 2017, eight different (biogas fermentation residue, matured manure, fresh waste compost, green microbial carbonized compost) were applied two amounts (120 240 kg N ha−1) along with an unfertilized control variant. The was current version German fertilizer ordinance. 2021, sensor measurements taken at six stages development (from BBCH 13 35) hand-held spectrometer using REIP vegetation index. showed variant could reliably recorded. Furthermore, even early differences between composts. results presented this study show indices reacted sensitively tool for farmers support their decision adequate strategy.