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Municipal Waste Compost: Effects on Crop Yields and Nutrient Content in Greenhouse Pot Experiments
Author(s) -
Terman G. L.,
Soileau J. M.,
Allen S. E.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1973.00472425000200010010x
Subject(s) - compost , agronomy , phaseolus , festuca arundinacea , green waste , soil water , nutrient , sewage sludge , environmental science , chemistry , crop , poaceae , sewage , biology , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , soil science
Five greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to study the utilization or disposal of urban waste compost on agricultural soils. Highly carbonaceous compost applied without additional N induced N deficiency in corn (Zea mays L.) grown on very N‐deficient Mountview sil. This was corrected by applying soluble N. Apparent N deficiency of corn was not induced by compost on soils higher in crop‐available N. Compost supplied considerable N, P, K, Ca, and Zn for corn and tall fescue (Fescue arundinacea Schreb.); P and K in the compost were relatively more available than its content of N. Placing P with compost did not increase availability of the P for corn. Heavy applications of compost (made from garbage and sewage sludge solids) to soil had a considerable liming effect and increased Zn concentrations and uptake by corn and tall fescue. The liming effect apparently prevented toxicity to corn and snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from Zn accumulations from compost on an acid Sango sil.