Medium-Term Influence of Organic Fertilization on the Quality and Yield of a Celery Crop

Abstract

For some years now, part of society has been demanding the implementation of circular economy models and so the use of organic matter as a source of nutrients is once again taking center stage. In this scenario, the aim of this work was to implement an integrated management model for a farm and to study the influence on a celery crop of organic amendments (animal and vegetable) obtained on the farm, as opposed to inorganic fertilization. This influence was evaluated for the yield and the nutritional, organoleptic, and sanitary quality of the resulting crops. The yield and size of the marketable parts of the celery plants were greater with the inorganic treatment; however, the nutritional and sanitary quality was better in the organic treatments, while the chromatic attributes, as well as the total P and Ca, were not affected by the different fertilization treatments applied. It is therefore concluded that the organic management model is environmentally and economically sustainable.