Summary
The combined use of chemical fertilisers with organic materials in crop fertilization is an essential approach to transition towards a more sustainable and resilient agriculture in Europe. In an apple orchard, chemical fertilisers (CF) were partially (25 to 57%) replaced with animal manure (cattle slurry - CS, acidified cattle slurry - ACS, cattle solid manure - CsM, and poultry manure - PM), based on the crop's nitrogen (N) requirements. Apple production and soil properties were monitored during a 3-year experiment. At the end of the third year, leaf N was higher in the control treatment (CTRL, 100% CF). Apple production was, on average, higher in the CS treatment, although not significantly different from the CTRL. Fruit analysis showed that replacing CF with animal manures did not signi
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