Open AccessEffect of urban green biomass (pruning materials) compost on the growth of komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. var. perviridis LH Bailey) in different soils
Author(s) -
E X Liu,
Tomoyuki Takahashi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.179
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/346/1/012079
Subject(s) - compost , brassica rapa , soil water , brassica , organic matter , pruning , agronomy , plant growth , biomass (ecology) , mineralization (soil science) , horticulture , chemistry , botany , environmental science , biology , soil science , organic chemistry
Mineralization of organic matter in soil is affected by the total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents and microbial activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that the application of compost made from pruning materials (PMs) would have different effects on plant growth depending on the properties of the soil. We grew komatsuna ( Brassica rapa L. var. perviridis LH Bailey ) plants for 1 month in different soils and found that there was a significant positive correlation between plant growth and the total C, N contents and microbial activity of the soil (p < 0.05). However, although PMs compost could be used as conditioners to increase the C and N contents and microbial activity of infertile soils, it was difficult to promote plant growth during the early stages of PMs compost application in these soils. Together, our results indicate that PMs compost is appropriate compost for sustaining or increasing the total C and N contents and microbial activity of the soil and increasing the yield of plants growing in fertile soil.