Open Access(345) Mushroom Farm and Anaerobic Digestion Wastewaters as Supplemental Fertilizer Sources for Growing Container Nursery Stock
Author(s) -
Calvin Chong,
Peter Purvis,
G. P. Lumis,
Bruce E. Holbein,
R. P. Voroney,
H. Zhou,
H.-W. Liu
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.40.4.1060a
Subject(s) - fertilizer , nutrient , anaerobic digestion , wastewater , compost , environmental science , agronomy , mushroom , chemistry , biology , botany , environmental engineering , methane , organic chemistry
Wastewaters from farm and composting operations are often rich in certain nutrients that can be reutilized in crop production. Liners of silverleaf dogwood ( Cornusalba L. `Argenteo-marginata'), common ninebark [ Physocarpusopulifolius (L.) Maxim.], and `Anthony Waterer' spirea ( Spiraea × bumalda Burvenich) were grown in 6-L containers filled with a medium consisting of 73% bark, 22% peat, and 5% pea gravel, by volume. Plants were fertigated daily via a computer-controlled multi-fertilizer injector with three recirculated fertilizer treatments: 1) a stock solution with macro- and micronutrients, electrical conductivity (EC) 2.2 dS·m -1 ; 2) wastewater from a mushroom farm; and 3) process wastewater from anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste. The wastewaters used in both treatments 2 and 3 were diluted with tap water, and the computer was programmed to amend, dispense, and recirculate nutrients, based on the same target EC as in treatment 1. For comparison, there was a traditional controlled-release fertilizer treatment [Nutryon 17–5–12 (17N–2P–10K) plus micronutrients incorporated into the medium at a rate of 6.5 kg·m -1 , nutrients not recirculated]. All three species responded similarly to the three recirculated fertilizer treatments. Growth in the recirculated treatments was similar and significantly higher than that obtained with controlled-release fertilizer. A similar trend in EC was observed in the media near harvest. Throughout the study, there was no sign of nutrient toxicity or deficiency with any of the species or treatment.