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There is significant interest from vegetable processors, growers, and consumers in organic sweet corn (Zea mays) production. Organic nitrogen (N) management is particularly challenging in high N consuming crops such as sweet corn because of the low N content and low N to phosphorus (P) ratios of organic soil amendments. Various management programs were compared to determine the optimal combination of soil amendments and green manure crops for organic sweet corn production. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), rye (Secale cereale), and field pea (Pisum sativum) were used as green manure crops. Composted poultry manure and a high N content organic fertilizer were used as organic amendments. Ammonium nitrate was used in a conventional management program for comparison. Treatments were designed to deliver a full rate of N (150 lb/acre), a half rate of N (75 lb/acre), and to limit the amount of P applied. Phosphorus can become a source of pollution when applied to erodible soils, particularly when soils already contain excessive P. Sweet corn yield in many of the organic programs was highly variable among years while the yield was more consistent in the conventional program. This was attributed to differences in organic N mineralization in both the green manure crops and the amendments. The most stable yield from an organic treatment, among years, was achieved using the commercially available organic N fertilizer. Commercially available amendments were costly, and although organic sweet corn received a premium price in years when organic yields were lower, profit was reduced by the high cost of N management.

Organic sweet corn (Zea mays) production is challenging for growers because of the high nitrogen (N) requirements of sweet corn and the relatively low N content of organic soil amendments. Total N supplied and rate of mineralization throughout the growing season are two important aspects in determining the optimal N management program. Green manure (GrM) crops, composted manures, and commercially available organic fertilizers are used to manage N in organic production systems. Using a combination of these tactics can optimize N while minimizing cost. In this study, we used combinations of composted poultry manure (CPM) and two organic fertilizers (one high N and one with a balance of nutrients) with three GrM crops [rye (Secale cereale), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and pea (Pisum sativum)] in a loamy sand soil for a 112-day laboratory incubation study. Total plant available N (PAN) was quantified at six times throughout the 16 weeks to determine total N mineralized and rate of N release from each of the management programs. The CPM and the high N organic fertilizer mineralized completely within the first 6 weeks of the study, while only 65% of the other organic fertilizer mineralized by the end of the study. Total N mineralized from pea grown as a GrM for 48 days was comparable to the amount of N mineralized from rye suggesting that pea as a GrM crop should not receive an N credit in field production on a sandy soil. Significant quantities of PAN were mineralized from alfalfa residue, the equivalent of 80 lb/acre, although this is not sufficient for sweet corn production. The combination of alfalfa and the high N organic fertilizer provided sufficient N for sweet corn production and the mineralization rate closely matched sweet corn need. The release of N from CPM, even in combination with GrM crops, was asynchronous with sweet corn crop need.