The Effect of Compost Addition on Chemical and Nitrogen Characteristics, Respiration Activity and Biomass Production in Prepared Reclamation Substrates

Authors: L. Plošek, F. Nsanganwimana, B. Pourrut, J. Elbl, J. Hynšt, A. Kintl, D. Kubná, J. Záhora

Abstract:

Land degradation is of concern in many countries. People more and more must address the problems associated with the degradation of soil properties due to man. Increasingly, organic soil amendments, such as compost are being examined for their potential use in soil restoration and for preventing soil erosion. In the Czech Republic, compost is the most used to improve soil structure and increase the content of soil organic matter. Land reclamation / restoration is one of the ways to evaluate industrially produced compost because Czech farmers are not willing to use compost as organic fertilizer. The most common use of reclamation substrates in the Czech Republic is for the rehabilitation of landfills and contaminated sites.

This paper deals with the influence of reclamation substrates (RS) with different proportions of compost and sand on selected soil properties–chemical characteristics, nitrogen bioavailability, leaching of mineral nitrogen, respiration activity and plant biomass production. Chemical properties vary proportionally with addition of compost and sand to the control variant (topsoil). The highest differences between the variants were recorded in leaching of mineral nitrogen (varies from 1.36mg dm^-3 in C to 9.09mg dm^-3). Addition of compost to soil improves conditions for plant growth in comparison with soil alone. However, too high addition of compost may have adverse effects on plant growth. In addition, high proportion of compost increases leaching of mineral N. Therefore, mixture of 70% of soil with 10% of compost and 20% of sand may be recommended as optimal composition of RS.

Keywords: Biomass, Compost, Reclamation, Respiration.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1088838

References:

[1] L. G. Bundy and J. J. Meisinger, “Nitrogen availability in dice”, in Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Microbiological and biochemical properties, R. W. Weaver, S. Angle, P. Bottomley, D. Bezdicek, S. Smith, A. Tabatabai, A.Wollum, Eds. Madison: Soil Society of Amerika, 1994, pp. 951-984.
[2] A. Cellier, C. Francou, S. Houot, Ch. Ballini, T. Gauquelin and V. Baldy. “Use of urban composts for the regeneration of a burnt Mediterranean soil: A laboratory approach“, Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 95, pp. 238-S244, 2012.
[3] L. F. Diaz, M. de Bertoldi, W. Bidlingmaier, E. Stentiford, Compost science and technology. Boston: MA Elsevier, 2007.
[4] J. Elbl, L. Plosek, A. Kintl, J. Zahora, J. Prichystalova and J. Hynst, “Effect of Organic-waste compost addition on Leaching of Mineral Nitrogen from Arable Land and Plant Production”, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 78, pp. 2858-2863, 2013.
[5] J. A. Harris, “Measurements of the soil microbial community for estimating the success of restoration”, European Journal of Soil Science, vol. 54, pp. 801-808, 2003.
[6] EP. Jouquet, E. Bloquel, T. Thu Doan, M. Ricoy, D. Orange, C. Rumpel and T. Tran Duc, “Do Compost and Vermicompost Improve Macronutrients Retention and Plant Growth in Degraded Tropical Soils?”, Compost Science & Utilization, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 15-24, 2011.
[7] F. Nevens and D. Reheul, “The application of vegetable, fruit and garden waste (VFG) compost in addition to cattle slurry in a silage maize monoculture: nitrogen availability and use”, European Journal of Agronomy, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 189-203, 2003.
[8] I. Novosadova, J. Zahora and J. D. R. Sinoga, “The availability of mineral nitrogen in mediterranean open steppe dominated by Stipatenacissima L”, Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, vol. 59, no. 5, pp. 187-192, 2011.
[9] M. B. Peoples, A. W. Faizah, B. Rerkasem and D. F. Herridge, Methods for evaluating nitrogen fixation by modulated legumes in thefield. Canberra: Australian Centre for International AgriculturalResearch, 1989.
[10] J. Sciana, “Salt-affected soils: the in causes, measure, and classification”, research method Hort Note No. 5, 2002.
[11] M. Simek, S. Virtanen, V. Kristufek, A. Simojoki and M. Yli-Halla, “Evidence of rich microbial communities in the subsoil of a boreal acid sulphate soil conductivity to green house gas emissions“, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, vol. 140, no. 1-2, pp. 113-122, 2011.
[12] M. Tejada, I. Gomez, T. Hernandez and C. Garcia, “Utilization of Vermicompost in Soil Restoration: Effect on Soil Biological Properties“, Soil Science Society of America Journal, vol. 74, pp. 525-532, 2010.
[13] M. B. Turrion, F. Lafunte, R. Mulas, O. Lopez, C. Ruiperez and V. Pando, „Effects on soil organic matter mineralization and microbial properties of applying compost to burned and unburned soils“, Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 95, pp. 245-249, 2012.
[14] S. Usťak, Pěstování vybraných druhů nepotravinářských plodin v kombinaci s aplikacemi organických hnojiv a mikrobiologických preparátů jako prostředek biologické rekultivace antropogenních půd: metodika pro praxi. Praha: VÚRV, 2010.
[15] J. Zbíral, Soil analysis: unique working procedures. Brno: ÚKZUZ, 2004 (in Czech).
[16] CSN ISO 10 390: Soil quality – determination of pH (in Czech).
[17] CSN ISO 11 265: Soilquality – determination of EC (in Czech).
[18] NF X 31-109: Soilquality – Chemical methods – Determination of organic carbon by chromicoxidation (in French).