TURNING TRASH TO TREASURE: USING MILLED CHERRY PITS AS A GARDEN SOIL AMENDMENT
Sustainable Agriculture
Taun Beddes
Horticulture Agent
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Orem
Abstract
Utah is the second largest producer of tart cherries in the Unites States, where yields vary from 35 – 50 million pounds annually. As the cherries are processed, a byproduct includes the cherry pits. These are often taken to landfills or are just dumped in empty fields. We investigated a potential use of cherry pits as a soil amendment. In October of 2021, we milled enough dried cherry pits to a quarter inch size to cover a 20 ft x 30 ft area 2 inches deep. We then rototilled the ground pits into the soil 6 inches deep. Soil was also tested at this time at a soil lab to ensure the soil was suitable for growing various garden crops. In late may of 2022, we planted replicated plots of sweet corn, bush green beans, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peppers in the area containing the ground pits and in an area of equal size, acting as our control, where pits had not been incorporated into the soil. Crops were harvested when ripe. In the cherry pit plots as compared to plots without pits, we found an increase in yield of 40% in the green beans, 15% in both peppers and tomatoes, and 10% in sweet potatoes. Sweet corn yields were equal in both.
Authors: Taun Beddes, Michael Caron, Jacob Hadfield, Dean Miner
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Taun Beddes Horticulture Agent, USU Cooperative Extension, Utah, 84097
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Michael Caron Extension Agent, USU Cooperative Extension, Utah, 84097
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Jacob Hadfield Extension Agent, Utah State University Extension, Utah, 84097
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Dean Miner Extension Agent (Retired), USU Cooperative Extension, Utah, 84097