Effects of Municipal Solid Waste Compost on Soil Properties and Vegetables Growth

Abstract

This work investigates the impact of municipal solid waste compost (MSW-compost) application (0, 50, and 100 t/ha) on the growth, and on nutrient and trace elements content in lettuce and tomato plants grown in large, 40-L pots. Our findings showed inhibition of plants' growth with increasing dose of MSW-compost, compared to plants receiving conventional fertilization. Growth inhibition was associated with a sharp decrease in soil NO 3 -N content. On the other hand, a slower decrease in soil NO 3 -N content occurred in non-planted pots amended with MSW-compost. These findings provide evidence that N immobilization and/or decreased N mineralization were responsible for inhibited growth by constraining N availability. With regard to the other macro-nutrients, K, P, Mg, Ca, and Fe, their contents in leaves of both crops were maintained at optimum levels. Higher zinc and copper content was measured in leaves of both crops but they did not exceed the optimum range for growth. No accumulation of trace elements was found in the fruits. The content of heavy metals in the tissues of plants grown in MSW-compost amended soil, remained at levels similar to those of the non-amended soil, suggesting that they do not pose a significant risk either for plant growth or public health. The findings of our study suggest that further emphasis should be given on the investigation of the factors regulating N mineralization and availability in order to avoid reductions in crop yield.

Recycling of Organic Wastes for Sustainable Soil Health and Crop Growth

“…Giannakis et al [38] investigated the impact of municipal solid waste compost (MSW-compost) application (0, 50, and 100 t/ha) on the growth of lettuce and tomato plants grown in large, 40 L pots. The findings showed inhibition of plants growth with increasing dose of MSW-compost, compared to plants receiving conventional fertilization.…”

“…and TSS content of the carrot root (7.96 °Brix). The positive response of vermicompost on plant growth and yield was not only due to the available nutrients but also due to the availability of plant growth influencing materials, such as growth regulators, humic acids produced by the microbial population resulting from earthworm activity.Giannakis et al [38] investigated the impact of municipal solid waste compost (MSW-compost) application (0, 50, and 100 t/ha) on the growth of lettuce and tomato plants grown in large, 40 L pots. The findings showed inhibition of plants growth with increasing dose of MSW-compost, compared to plants receiving conventional fertilization.…”

Response of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) to sewage sludge treatment and irrigation intervals in a dryland condition

“…This material can be a useful source of nutrients for the soil environment by turning wastes into valuable resources (Ghoniem, 2007;Dawi, 2014) that contained total N ranging from 1.5% in air-dried lime treated biosolids to 7.5% in liquid mesophilic anaerobic digested biosolids (Rigby et al, 2016). On the other hand, increasing doses of municipal solid wastes could be associated with sharp decrease in soil NO3-N and as a result inhibition of plant growth (Giannakis et al, 2014) or soil properties may not improve or even worsen beyond 40 t ha -1 of sewage application (Roig et al, 2012).…”

Effects of the onion residue compost as an organic fertilizer in a vegetable culture in the Lower Valley of the Rio Negro

“…Intensive use of soils, specifically those oriented to horticultural production, has caused the decrease of organic matter and nutrient; that has been identified as one of the most important threats to the quality of soils (Bevacqua and Mellano 1994;Maynard 1995;Khoshgoftarmanesh and Kalbasi 2002;Hu and Barker 2004;Maftoun et al 2004;Campitelli and Ceppi 2008;Amusan et al 2011;Kabirinejad and Hoodaji 2012;Sohrabi et al 2013;Giannakis et al 2014;Rajaie and Tavakoly 2016;Dotaniya et al 2016;Kalaivanan and Hattab 2016).…”

“…Through the studies carried out about different horticultural labors, fruit trees and cereal crops, many authors pointed that the application of organic amendments to soil, coming from the composting process of different kinds of wastes (urban solid wastes, manure, gardening and tree pruning), yields a significant improvement in the nutritional condition of the plant; as well as in the performance and quality of harvested fruits (Arancon et al 2004;Lee et al 2004;Gutiérrez-Miceli et al 2007;Singh et al 2008;Suthar 2009;Tejada and González 2009;Batlle-Bayer et al (2010); Amusan et al 2011;Giannakis et al 2014).…”