Production of vegetables for food industry in Finland is mainly situated in non-cattle farm area. Sufficiency of nutrients is one of the main problems in production, together with pests and weeds. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) requires a considerable amount of nutrients. The aim of the present study was to compare fertilizer band placement and broadcasting treatments in organic cauliflower production in two diverse seasons, using different amounts of organic fertilizer. The fertilizer was placed in ridges, and the broadcasted fertilizer was mixed into soil by rotary tiller after application. Fertilization treatments were 80 (year 2002), 170 and 250 kg N ha(-1) in commercial organic fertilizer placed in ridge or broadcasted, 170 kg N ha(-1)in composted broiler manure, and no fertilizer. In 2001, the drier season, cauliflower was planted in soil that had been fallow in the preceding year. The yield was higher in placed treatments than in broadcasted treatments. In 2002, with clover as the preceding crop in rotation, the yield was similar in all treatments despite the method. The placement of fertilizer was not better than broadcasting in organic cauliflower production, when higher amounts of nitrogen were available from the soil. If the nitrogen level is low in soil before planting and the growing period is dry, plants get nitrogen better from placed fertilizer and yields are likely to be higher compared with broadcasted fertilizer.
