Evaluation of Composting Materials for Sustainable Agricultural Applications

Abstract

Natural resources are elements of the environment that humans use as a means of production in order to achieve economic development. The aim of the study is based on the evaluation of the proposed 5 natural products /vermiculites, glauconite, straw fly ash, wood biomass and pig manure/ in different proportions to develop various versions of compositions for use in agricultural practice. On the basis of the chemical and agrochemical characteristics of the starting materials, 5 compost samples were prepared from mixing the natural products in a different ratio. Thеse analyzes of the five starting products found, that in vermiculites, glauconite and ash from straw the total amounts of the biogenic element nitrogen and the sum of the mineral fractions of nitrogen (ammonia and nitrate) were very small, whereas for wood biomass and pigs manure the content of the total N is high. The content of the tested heavy metals is much lower, than the ones defined in the legislation. An exception is made for vermiculite, where the total amounts of chromium and nickel are above the MRLs. The investigators found, that the pH in all the mixtures was in the alkaline region, due to the alkaline reaction of the medium with all the starting components. The sum of the mineral fractions of nitrogen for the five mixtures ranges from 163.0 to 241.3 mg/kg. Moving forms of phosphorus and potassium show high values as a result of mixing. No increase in heavy metal values is observed in the different mixtures and the reported values are below the MRLs. The five composts represent a qualitative improver in their use in agricultural practice.