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

• Published in: Compost science & utilization Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 116 - 131
• Main Authors: Giannakis, G. V, Kourgialas, N. N, Paranychianakis, N. V, Nikolaidis, N. P, Kalogerakis, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.07.2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Agricultural production; calcium; Composting; crop yield; Crops; Flowers & plants; fruits; growth retardation; Health risk assessment; heavy metals; Inhibition; iron; leaves; Lettuce; Lycopersicon esculentum; magnesium; Mineralization; MSW composts; Municipal solid waste; nitrate nitrogen; phosphorus; plant growth; Plants (organisms); potassium; Pots; Public health; risk; Soil (material); soil amendments; soil properties; Solid waste management; Studies; tissues; Tomatoes; Trace elements; zinc
• ISSN: 2326-2397; 1065-657X; 2326-2397
• DOI: 10.1080/1065657X.2014.899938

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.