Next Article in Journal
Responses of Cereal Yields and Soil Carbon Sequestration to Four Long-Term Tillage Practices in the North China Plain
Next Article in Special Issue
Comparison of Proximal Remote Sensing Devices of Vegetable Crops to Determine the Role of Grafting in Plant Resistance to Meloidogyne incognita
Previous Article in Journal
Different Organic Fertilisation Systems Modify Tomato Quality: An Opportunity for Circular Fertilisation in Intensive Horticulture
Previous Article in Special Issue
VISmaF: Synthetic Tree for Immersive Virtual Visualization in Smart Farming. Part I: Scientific Background Review and Model Proposal
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Agronomy
Volume 12
Issue 1
10.3390/agronomy12010175
agronomy-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Effect of Differently Matured Composts from Willow on Growth and Development of Lettuce †

by
Jakub Bekier
1,*,
Elżbieta Jamroz
1,
Józef Sowiński
2,
Katarzyna Adamczewska-Sowińska
3 and
Andrea Kałuża-Haładyn
1
1
Institute of Soil Sciences and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
2
Institute of Agroecology and Crop Production, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
3
Department of Horticulture, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the 1st International Electronic Conference on Agronomy, 3–17 May 2021; Available online: https://sciforum.net/conference/IECAG2021.
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 175; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12010175
Submission received: 24 November 2021 / Revised: 30 December 2021 / Accepted: 10 January 2022 / Published: 11 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Agronomy (IECAG2021))
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Soil amendments from peats, brown coals and composts produced from segregated biodegradable waste or biomass from fallow land can increase soil fertility and improve soil productivity. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of using willow (Salix viminalis L.) biomass composts as a substrate component in horticulture. The objects of the research were composts produced from willow carried out in a pile under aerobic conditions. The addition of hay and mineral nitrogen (Nmin) was used to improve process efficiency. In order to verify the type and determine fertilizing value, basic chemical parameters were analyzed (pH, total contents of C, N and P) and a pot experiment was established to analyze the germination and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Changes in pH, an increase in total nitrogen content (TN), phosphorus (TP) and a decrease in TOC was observed in the investigated samples. Results of the experiment showed that the highest yield was obtained from the pots with the mixture of willow, hay and Nmin. Matured composts significantly stimulated the germination and growth of the test plants. It can be concluded that the addition of hay and Nmin significantly improved composting process and increased the fertilizing value of the investigated composts.

1. Introduction

In recent decades, a significant decrease in humic substances (HS) content in terrestrial environments (especially cultivated areas), due to increased mineralization of organic matter, has been observed [1]. This phenomenon is very strongly observed in intensively used agroecosystems, especially in horticulture in the cultivation of vegetables, ornamental and fruit plants, mushroom plantations, nurseries, orchards and forestry [2]. The consequences of these adverse changes are a rapid reduction in soil fertility and productivity, and a catastrophic impact on crop production and the conservation values of terrestrial ecosystems [3]. Current trends and guidelines related to the functioning of sustainable agricultural production point to the need to radically reduce the use of fertilisers or peat-based components [4,5]. Many studies have clearly shown that inappropriate and excessive peat extraction for agricultural and energy purposes has led to very negative environmental consequences [6,7]. It is therefore proposed that peatlands be considered as protected areas and that peat be considered as a global natural and/or strategic resource [8]. In order to reduce the negative effects of environmental changes, improve soil quality and increase soil organic matter (SOM) content, relevant guidelines, programmes and projects have been developed [9,10,11]. The most likely solutions seem to be those suggesting the use of sustainable tillage and the introduction of organic or organic-mineral soil conditioners produced from exogenous organic matter (EOM). In this context, use materials and production and cultivation technologies that meet society’s current [12] and future needs for food, feed production, environmental quality and human health and maintain agriculture’s acceptable impact on the environment. Furthermore, modern fertility management should be based on a comprehensive, long-term and integrated approach [13] rather than the more short-term approach used in conventional farming.
The use of alternative sources of EOM are also highly recommended: selected ‘green waste’, biodegradable municipal waste or biomass from the cultivation of various plant species, with a particular focus on the concept of using biomass from the cultivation of energy willow as a substrate for compost production [11,12]. However, the quality and usefulness of the organic matter input is a consequence of the quality of the substrates used, the rate and the direction of the transformation. Furthermore, in terms of yield potential, the sum total of all organic matter present in the soil must be taken into consideration, including interactions occurring at different times [13,14]. This applies in particular to residues at different stages of decomposition, substances newly synthesised as a result of microbiological/chemical reactions and the biomass of soil micro-organisms (edaphic). Although research work on willow biomass processing has been carried out for many years, information on mineralisation and humification processes during composting is still inconclusive [15,16]. Undoubtedly, increased recycling of organic residues as fertilisers and soil additives in field and horticultural crops avoids both the use of non-renewable resources, energy expenditure and landfilling of biodegradable materials [17]. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the transformations of organic matter and mineral components contained in composted willow will help to develop methods of producing composts with the most favourable technical parameters, useful for agricultural and natural purposes and safe for the environment [8,14,16,17].
The aim of this study was to analyze selected chemical properties of composts produced from energy willow (Salix viminalis L.) as well as to determine their influence on germination and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

2. Materials and Methods

The objects of the research were composts (Figure 1) produced according to semi-dynamic open pile system [18,19] in three variants:
  • variant A: composts produced from willow chips (diameter of approx. 2.5 cm, obtained from 3-year-old plants);
  • variant B: willow mixed with hay (extensive meadows: 50% grasses, 25% legumes and 25% other herbaceous plants);
  • variant C: willow mixed with hay and mineral (ammonium nitrate 34% N) nitrogen fertilizer (Nmin).
The prepared substrates were piled up in piles of approx. 4 m × 2.0 m × 1.2 m (L × W × H). The composts were regularly turned to aerate and homogenise the composted mass.
Samples for analysis were taken from the piles at different maturity stage (after 1, 32, 71 and 167 days), then air-dried and ground, then ground mechanically to a diameter of 2.0 mm. Basic properties of the analysed composts were investigated according to the most important chemical parameters for product qualification and compost quality assessment in EU countries: total organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents [19].

2.1. Basic Chemical Analyses

In collected materials the following determinations were performed: pH in 1 mol KCl dm-3, content of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) using Vario Macro Cube CN analyser (Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH, 63505 Langenselbold Germany), content of total phosphorus (TP) by MP-AES 4200 analyzer (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA) after mineralisation (m:v = 1:10) of the samples in perchloric acid (72% HClO4 by mass).

2.2. Vegetation Experiments

To determine the potential use of composts [20], a preliminary vegetation study was performed, including a two-stage pot experiment: the effect of composts at different maturity stages on germination (stage 1) and initial growth (stage 2) of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The experiments were conducted in the experimental rooms of the Institute under conditions eliminating the impact of abiotic factors and with access to even natural light. A randomized complete block method was used with the following parameters: 20 seeds per pot in 3 replicates (Stage 1) and 3 seedlings per pot in 3 replicates (Stage 2) for each variant, respectively. During the experiment the influence of two factors were investigated: the type of composting variant and the compost maturity stage.

2.3. Statistical Analyses

The results obtained from chemical analyses and vegetation experiments were statistically processed using Statistica 13 software. Differences among objects were checked according to Tukey’s test at the significance level <0.05.

3. Results and Discussion

The results presented in this paper are based on mean values obtained during chemical analyses and resulting from the vegetation experiment.

3.1. Changes in pH, TOC, TN and TP Contents in the Studied Compost Samples

Changes in pH during composting indicate the intensity of biochemical processes. Values of pH in the range 5.5 to 8.0 are considered the most optimal, while the final product should be neutral or slightly acidic [21,22,23]. The analysis of the obtained results (Figure 2, Table 1) indicates too high acidification of the tested composts. Regardless of the variants used, the lowest value of this parameter was found in the initial materials: pHKCl from 4.16 to 5.12 (variants A and B, respectively). Additionally, statistical analysis (Table 1) showed significant differences between the tested samples.
However, it should be noted that the dynamics of these changes differed between the composting variants. They result mainly from the composition of the composted biomass and the intensity and direction of the organic and mineral components transformations [18,19,20]. These phenomena are determined by the biodegradability of the substrates used and the conditions of the composting process [24,25].
The obtained results of TOC content, the applied willow processing technology and the origin and quality of substrates used allow one to qualify the studied products as composts [16,19]. In all investigated samples a decreasing trend in TOC content (Figure 3a, Table 1) was observed. The dynamics of these changes showed statistically significant differences between the variants used in the experiment. In the initial phase of composting TOC ranged from 478.9 to 404.1 g kg−1 (variants A and C. respectively), while in mature materials it ranged from 375.0 to 458.4 g kg−1 (variants B. C and A. respectively).
The most intensive decrease in TOC content was observed in variant B (enriched with hay) especially in the first 30 days of the experiment. For compost enriched with nitrogen fertiliser, (variant C), similar phenomena were observed between 30 and 70 days of composting and in the stabilisation phase (Figure 3a). In the variant containing only willow (variant A), the decrease in TOC content was most intense up to day 71 and then stabilisation was observed. The results obtained indicate willow as a highly resistant to biotransformation processes and should be considered a structuring material and a potential source of organic carbon in the case of increased microbial and chemical activity of the environment [2,12]. Furthermore, it should be noted that hay and Nmin significantly stimulated the composting process, as evidenced by the variable activity of TOC decomposition during the experiment. The processes observed are in line with previous studies on composting of wood or wood waste [26,27,28]. However, most studies indicate that the best way to achieve appropriate quality for this type of compost is to use chemical and biological stimulating agents. Furthermore, it has been shown experimentally that composting wood without additives is a long-term process, which may consequently negatively affect the ecological and economic aspect of the production of these composts.
Total nitrogen content is an obligatory chemical parameter for the classification of compost as a potential product for soil application [19,29]. Furthermore, many authors [30,31] indicate the importance of determining TN, and the proportion of TOC and TN in both the substrate and the final product. Analysis of TN contents (Figure 3b, Table 1) showed a significant increasing trend in all tested composts, especially in variants enriched with hay and nitrogen fertilizer. The highest quantitative changes of TN from 9.78 g kg−1 in the initial material to 50.06 g kg−1 in the final product, were observed for variant C. It should also be noted that the most beneficial changes in TN content were observed in the variants enriched with hay and Nmin, which—with relation to the intensity of TOC transformations (Figure 3a,b)—indicates the necessity of supplementing wood substrates with materials containing significant amounts of N [32,33,34].
In the studied composts (Figure 4, Table 1), the TP contents ranged from 0.92–1.36 g kg−1 in the initial materials (variants C and A) and 1.03–1.77 g kg−1 in the final products (variants C and B. respectively).
Moreover, the dynamics of TP content changes were significantly different depending on the maturity of the compost and the composition of the composted mass [8,24,35]. Based on the results obtained, it must be stated that in all variants, the total values of C, N and P were low compared to other types of composted biomass [25,31,33]. However, it should be taken into consideration that an assessment based on the total content of selected macro- and micro-nutrients is only relevant to determine the category of the product tested [19] and is not sufficient to estimate its potential and actual nutrient supply ability. According to a recent studies [36,37], products resulting from the biological treatment (e.g., composting) of woody or wood-like substances were characterised by relatively low contents of available nutrients, which significantly reduces their potential use as fertilisers. Furthermore, most of the tested composts produced from wood-based components showed an inappropriate share of biologically active forms in relation to the total content of selected nutrients, which significantly limited the estimation of the optimal fertiliser dose. Therefore, modification of substrates used for the production of willow biomass composts by introducing substances improving chemical parameters in the final products should be considered.

3.2. Results of the Pot Experiment

Although the examination of selected chemical properties allowed the tested composts to be qualified to the appropriate group of substances used for soil application, a two-stage vegetation experiment was conducted to assess their suitability as potential growing media.

3.2.1. Influence of Investigated Composts on Lettuce Germination

The results of the first stage of the pot experiment (Figure 5a, Table 2) indicated differences in the influence of the investigated composts on the germination of lettuce.
Although the number of germinated seeds in the control sample (8 seeds) was lower than in all tested composts, 9–15 (variants A, C and B, respectively), a significant correlation (Table 2) was found for variant B (all samples) and variant C (material after167 days of composting).
Furthermore, the lack of significant effect on germination regardless of composting time for variants A (all samples) and C (samples after 1, 32 and 71 days of composting) may indicate the effect of an inhibitory factor present in these composts. Based on previous studies [15,20,36,38], low pH value and too high TOC/TN ratio (> 20) seem to be the most probable, especially for samples of variant A. Gariglio et al. [20,38] found that substrate containing non-composted willow sawdust significantly inhibited lettuce seed germination in comparison to variants with composted materials. Based on changes in the germination index (Gi) values, they showed that the composting process reduced the negative effect of untreated willow. Furthermore, the most optimal germination parameters were found in media containing willow composted for a minimum of 40 days. On the contrary, in substrates containing longer composted material, the observed effects were not statistically significant. It can therefore be deduced that the germination-inhibiting compounds contained in willow are eliminated during the composting process and are not present in the mature material. Similar results were obtained in the experiments conducted by Duddigan et al. [36] and Adamczewska-Sowińska et al. [15]. Application of composts from wood-based substrates did not result in an increase in the number of germinated plants, suggesting the lack or limited effect on the germination. Furthermore, the use of Nmin-enriched compost variants in these experiments did not result in a statistically significant effect on the germination of the test plants.

3.2.2. The Influence of Investigated Composts on Lettuce Growth and Yield

Although organic additives usually stimulate emergence and improve plant growth and development [39,40,41], the use of wood or bark composts may not result in a positive yield-forming effect. The results obtained in the second stage of the pot experiment (Figure 5b, Table 3) showed the lettuce yields obtained from the variant C samples after 1, 71 and 167 days of composting (4.70, 10.37 and 5.55 g pot−1, respectively) were significantly higher than the yield of the control: 2.17 g pot−1. Moreover, the other samples tested did not significantly influence the growth and yield of lettuce, regardless of the variant used and the duration of composting. Furthermore, the application of compost from variant A in pot experiments (Table 2 and Table 3) did not significantly improve either germination or yield of the test plant.
Many authors indicate [12,39,42,43,44] that the effect on plant growth under the influence of organic additives may differ depending on the quality of the additive used. Analysing the data in Table 3, it can be assumed that the main factors limiting the stimulating effect of the studied composts on plant yield are low content and probably low bioavailability of basic nutrients. Experimental results conducted by Duddigan et al. [36] have shown that using growing media containing only wood-based composts did not increase yields compared to control media. Gariglio et al. [20,39] reported a significant increase in yield of test plants on substrates with composted willow sawdust only compared to non-composted material. Furthermore, the results of the study by Adamczewska-Sowińska et al. [15] indicated a negative effect of using substrates of composted willow only, on the quantity and quality characteristics of test plants. However, in all these experiments, the use of Nmin-supplemented variants had a stimulating effect on the quality and quantity of the yield obtained. Therefore, most authors suggest the use of composting as a method of processing willow for agricultural purposes, and also recommend enriching the substrate with nutrients, especially nitrogen. Thus, with reference to studies on composts from wood-based substrates [15,20,39,44], the evaluation of the effect on yield is extremely complex and requires understanding of many factors. Therefore, application of such composts as a single amendment may not result in a change in yield [38,39,45,46].

4. Summary and Conclusions

Both the results of chemical analyses and vegetation experiments indicate the potential usefulness of willow composts as an alternative fertiliser product [25,27,28]. This is particularly important in terms of carbon sequestration [5,14] and stabilization [5,8,9,46,47,48] of soil organic matter by low-cost, widely used and effective methods of wood-based substance management. While the use of semi-dynamic composting in open piles to process this type of substrate is widely accepted, the most discussed and controversial seem to be the physicochemical parameters [23,46,47] and the effect of the obtained product on plant growth and development. Optimisation of the substrate composition by using suitable additives enriching the willow chips with mineral compounds seems to be the most reasonable solution [15,20,36,39]. Moreover, in order to improve the yield-forming properties, the use of the obtained product in combination with other organic or mineral-organic additives should be considered [38,45]. Therefore, further research on improving the properties of willow-based composts should focus on developing the most effective ways to stimulate the composting process using chemical, microbiological and technical methods [29,30].
Based on the results of the preliminary studies, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Willow chips can be a substrate for the production of alternative fertilizer products and/or growing media; however they require appropriate organic and mineral additives and optimized composting conditions; (2) Despite the use of organic and mineral additives, all tested composts contained low quantities of C, N and P; (3) Chemical simulation through the addition of compounds containing macro- and micronutrients, especially nitrogen, is necessary to optimise willow-based compost production processes; (4) The results of vegetation experiments showed that regardless of the maturity stage, composts made of willow chips without additives (variant A) had an inhibitory effect on germination. growth and yield of lettuce; (5) Considering the results of preliminary chemical tests and vegetation experiments, the use of the tested composts as a single amendment or growing medium is not recommended; (6) The study demonstrated the validity of using both the results of chemical properties and vegetation experiments to verify the quality and suitability of the tested composts; (7) Some of the results obtained during the preliminary research were used to prepare a patent application.

5. Patents

Some of the results obtained for variants A and C: chemical properties, germination test, were used in patent application No. P.435103 registered on 28 June 2020 in the Polish Patent Office. A legal procedure is currently underway.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization J.B., E.J. and J.S.; methodology J.B., A.K.-H. and E.J.; validation E.J., J.S. and K.A.-S.; formal analysis J.B. and E.J.; investigation J.B., A.K.-H. and E.J.; resources J.B., E.J. and J.S.; data curation E.J., J.B.; writing—original draft preparation J.B.; writing—review and editing J.B., E.J., K.A.-S.; visualization J.B. and E.J.; supervision E.J. and J.S.; project administration E.J. and J.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available upon request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available until the invention patent (registration No. P.435103) is officially granted.

Acknowledgments

The APC/BPC is financed/co-financed by Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences The authors would like to acknowledge the technical staff of the Research Station in Pawlowice, Wroclaw University of Life Sciences and Tomasz Kwaśniewski, for help in conducting the pot experiments.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Weber, J.; Kocowicz, A.; Bekier, J.; Jamroz, E.; Tyszka, R.; Dębicka, M.; Parylak, D.; Kordas, L. The effect of a sandy soil amendment with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost on nitrogen uptake efficiency by plants. Eur. J. Agron. 2014, 54, 54–60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Van Gerrewey, T.; Ameloot, N.; Navarrete, O.; Vandecruys, M.; Perneel, M.; Boon, N.; Geelen, D. Microbial activity in peat-reduced plant growing media: Identifying influential growing medium constituents and physicochemical properties using fractional factorial design of experiments. J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 256, 120323. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Lazcano, C.; Arnold, J.; Tato, A.; Zaller, J.G.; Dominguez, J.; Salgado, A.T. Compost and vermicompost as nursery pot components: Effects on tomato plant growth and morphology. Span. J. Agric. Res. 2009, 7, 944–951. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  4. Scarlat, N.; Dallemand, J.-F.; Monforti-Ferrario, F.; Nita, V. The role of biomass and bioenergy in a future bioeconomy: Policies and facts. Environ. Dev. 2015, 15, 3–34. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Tubiello, F.N.; Biancalani, R.; Salvatore, M.; Rossi, S.; Conchedda, G. A worldwide assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from drained organic soils. Sustainability 2016, 8, 371. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  6. Clarke, D.; Rieley, J. Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management; International Peat Society: Jyväskylä, Finland, 2010; pp. 5–29. [Google Scholar]
  7. Kern, J.; Tammeorg, P.; Shanskiy, M.; Sakrabani, R.; Knicker, H.; Kammann, C.; Tuhkanen, E.-M.; Smidt, G.; Prasad, M.; Tiilikkala, K.; et al. Synergistic use of peat and charred material in growing media—An option to reduce the pressure on peatlands? J. Environ. Eng. Landsc. Manag. 2017, 25, 160–174. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Duque-Acevedo, M.; Belmonte-Urena, L.J.; Plaza-Ubeda, J.A.; Camacho-Ferre, F. The management of agricultural waste biomass in the framework of circular economy and bioeconomy: An opportunity for greenhouse agriculture in southeast Spain. Agronomy 2020, 10, 489. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  9. Resolution of the 17th World Congress of Soil Science. In Global Enhancement of Soil Organic Matter; Bulletin of the International Union of Soil Sciences; No 102; Blum, W.E.H. (Ed.) IUSS: Vienna, Austria, 2002; pp. 22–23. [Google Scholar]
  10. Weber, J.; Karczewska, A.; Drozd, J.; Licznar, M.; Licznar, S.E.; Jamroz, E.; Kocowicz, A. Agricultural and ecological aspects of a sandy soil as affected by the application of municipal solid waste composts. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2007, 39, 1294–1302. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Komatsuzaki, M.; Ohta, H. Soil management practices for sustainable agro-ecosystems. Sustain. Sci. 2007, 2, 103–120. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Diacono, M.; Montemurro, F. Long-term effects of organic amendments on soil fertility. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 2010, 30, 401–422. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  13. Abbott, L.K.; Murphy, D.V. What is soil biological fertility? In Soil Biological Fertility; Abbott, L.K., Murphy, D.V., Eds.; Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2007; pp. 1–15. [Google Scholar]
  14. Lal, R. Carbon management in agricultural soils. Mitig. Adapt. Strateg. Glob. Change 2007, 12, 303–322. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Adamczewska-Sowińska, K.; Sowińsk, J.; Jamroz, E.; Bekier, J. Combining willow compost and peat as media for juvenile tomato transplant production. Agronomy 2021, 11, 2089. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Bekier, J.; Jamroz, E.; Kałuża-Haładyn, A.; Sowiński, J.; Adamczewska-Sowińska, K. Effect of Differently Matured Compost Produced from Willow (Salix viminalis L.) on Growth and Development of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). 2021. Available online: https://sciforum.net/manuscripts/10067/manuscript.pdf (accessed on 14 August 2021).
  17. Mondini, C.; Sequi, P. Implication of soil C sequestration on sustainable agriculture and environment. Waste Manag. 2008, 28, 678–684. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Hay, J.C.; Kuchenrither, R. Fundamentals and application of windrow composting. J. Environ. Eng. 1990, 116, 746–763. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Cesaro, A.; Belgiorno, V.; Guida, M. Compost from organic solid waste: Quality assessment and European regulations for its sustainable use. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2015, 94, 72–79. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Gariglio, N.F.; Buyatti, M.A.; Pilatti, R.A.; Rossia, D.E.G.; Acosta, M.R. Use of a germination bioassay to test compost maturity of willow (Salix sp.) sawdust. N. Z. J. Crop Hortic. Sci. 2002, 30, 135–139. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  21. Kaluza-Haladyn, A.; Jamroz, E.; Bekier, J. Humic substances of differently matured composts produced from municipal solid wastes and biomass of energetic plants. Soil Sci. Ann. 2019, 70, 292–297. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Kwaśniewski, T. The Impact of the Degree of Maturity of Composts Produced from Biomass of Selected Plants Grown for Energy Purposes on the Growth and Development of the Test Plants. Master Thesis, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland, 2021. [Google Scholar]
  23. Kaluza-Haladyn, A.; Jamroz, E.; Bekier, J. The dynamics of some physical and physico-chemical properties during composting of municipal solid wastes and biomass of energetic plants. Soil Sci. Ann. 2018, 69, 155–159. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  24. Jamroz, E.; Bekier, J.; Medynska-Juraszek, A.; Kaluza-Haladyn, A.; Cwielag-Piasecka, I.; Bednik, M. The contribution of water extractable forms of plant nutrients to evaluate MSW compost maturity: A case study. Sci. Rep. 2020, 10, 12842. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  25. Boelens, J.; De Wilde, B.; De Baere, L. Comparative study on biowaste definition: Effects on biowaste collection, composting process and compost quality. Compost Sci. Util. 1996, 1, 60–72. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. N’Dayegamiye, A.; Isfan, D. Chemical and biological changes in compost of wood shavings, sawdust and peat moss. Can. J. Soil Sci. 1991, 71, 475–484. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  27. Wróblewska, H. Studies on the effect of compost made of post-use wood waste on the growth of willow plants. Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 2008, 483, 352–366. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Carlile, W.R. The use of composted materials in growing media. Acta Hortic. 2008, 779, 321–328. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Jiménez, E.I.; Garcia, V.P. Evaluation of city refuse compost maturity: A review. Biol. Wastes 1989, 27, 115–142. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  30. De Nobili, M.; Petussi, F. Humification index as evaluation of the stabilization degree during compost. J. Ferment. Technol. 1988, 66, 557–583. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Chefetz, B.; Hatcher, P.G.; Hadar, Y.; Chen, Y. Chemical and biological characterization of organic matter during composting of municipal solid waste. J. Environ. Qual. 1996, 25, 776–785. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Desrochers, V.; Frenette-Dussault, C.; Nissim, W.G.; Brisson, J.; Labrecque, M. Using willow microcuttings for ecological restoration: An alternative method for establishing dense plantations. Ecol. Eng. 2020, 151, 105859. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Hue, N.; Sobieszczyk, B.A. Nutritional values of some biowastes as soil amendments. Compost Sci. Util. 1999, 7, 34–41. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Koerner, I.; Stegmann, R. Influence of biowaste composition and composting parameters on the nitrogen dynamics during composting and on nitrogen contents in composts. Acta Hortic. 1998, 469, 97–109. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Eichler-Loebermann, B.; Koehne, S.; Koeppen, D. Effect of organic, inorganic, and combined organic and inorganic P fertilization on plant P uptake and soil P pools. J. Plant. Nutr. Soil Sci. 2007, 170, 623–628. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Duddigan, S.; Alexander, P.D.; Shaw, L.J.; Collins, C.D. Effects of repeated application of organic soil amendments on horticultural soil physicochemical properties, nitrogen budget and yield. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 371. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Chanyasak, V.; Katayama, A.; Hirai, F.M.; Mori, S.; Kubota, H. Growth inhibitory factors and assessment of degree of maturity by org-C/org-N ratio of water extract. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 1983, 29, 215–219. [Google Scholar]
  38. González, M.; Gomez, E.; Comese, R.; Quesada, M.; Conti, M. Influence of organic amendments on soil quality potential indicators in an urban horticultural system. Bioresour. Technol. 2010, 101, 8897–8901. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Gariglio, N.F.; Buyatti, M.A.; Bouzo, C.A.; Weber, M.E.; Pilatti, R.A. Use of willow (Salix sp.) sawdust as a potting medium for calendula (Calendula officinalis) and marigold (Tagetes erecta) plant production. N. Z. J. Crop Hortic. Sci. 2004, 32, 147–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  40. Dębska, B.; Długosz, J.; Piotrowska-Długosz, A.; Banach-Szott, M. The impact of a bio-fertilizer on the soil organic matter status and carbon sequestration—Results from a field-scale study. J. Soils Sediments 2016, 16, 2335–2343. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  41. Zaccone, C.; Schiavon, M.; Celletti, S.; Miano, T. Selected plant-related papers from the First Joint Meeting on Soil and Plant System Sciences (SPSS 2019)—“Natural and human-induced impacts on the critical zone and food production”. Plants 2020, 9, 1132. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. Roy, S.; Arunachalam, K.; Dutta, B.K.; Arunachalam, A. Effect of organic amendments of soil on growth and productivity of three common crops viz. Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris and Abelmoschus esculentus. Appl. Soil Ecol. 2010, 45, 78–84. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Erhart, E.; Hardl, W.; Putz, B. Biowaste compost affects yield, nitrogen supply during the vegetation period and crop quality of agricultural crops. Eur. J. Agron. 2005, 23, 305–314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Hartl, W.; Putz, B.; Erhart, E. Influence of rates and timing of biowaste compost application on rye yield and soil nitrate levels. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 2003, 39, 129–139. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Alexander, P.D.; Nevison, I.M. The long-term effects of repeated application of the same organic material to soil in a horticultural context. Acta Hortic. 2015, 1076, 143–150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Carmichael, E.; Ghassemieh, E.; Lyons, G. Biorefining of lignocellulosic feedstock and waste materials using ionic liquid. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 2020, 262, 114741. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Chefetz, B.; Hadar, Y.; Chen, Y. Dissolved organic carbon fractions formed during composting of municipal solid waste: Properties and significance. Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiol. 1998, 469, 111–119. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Banach-Szott, M.; Dębska, B.; Tobiasova, E. Properties of humic acids depending on the land use in different parts of Slovakia. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2021, 28, 58068–58080. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Agronomy 12 00175 g001 550
Figure 1. Different willow compost variants: (A)—variant A (willow chips); (B)—variant B (willow chips:hay, mass ratio 1:1 in d.m); (C)—variant C (willow chips:hay:Nmin, mass ratio 1:1:0.04 in d.m).
Figure 1. Different willow compost variants: (A)—variant A (willow chips); (B)—variant B (willow chips:hay, mass ratio 1:1 in d.m); (C)—variant C (willow chips:hay:Nmin, mass ratio 1:1:0.04 in d.m).
Agronomy 12 00175 g001
Agronomy 12 00175 g002 550
Figure 2. Changes in pHKCl during composting of willow chips.
Figure 2. Changes in pHKCl during composting of willow chips.
Agronomy 12 00175 g002
Agronomy 12 00175 g003 550
Figure 3. Changes in: (a) TOC and (b) TN during composting of willow chips [g kg−1].
Figure 3. Changes in: (a) TOC and (b) TN during composting of willow chips [g kg−1].
Agronomy 12 00175 g003
Agronomy 12 00175 g004 550
Figure 4. Changes in total phosphorus content [g kg−1] during composting.
Figure 4. Changes in total phosphorus content [g kg−1] during composting.
Agronomy 12 00175 g004
Agronomy 12 00175 g005 550
Figure 5. Vegetation experiment: (a) Stage 1–germination and (b) Stage 2–growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).
Figure 5. Vegetation experiment: (a) Stage 1–germination and (b) Stage 2–growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).
Agronomy 12 00175 g005
Table
Table 1. Changes in basic chemical parameters of differently matured composts produced from willow.
Table 1. Changes in basic chemical parameters of differently matured composts produced from willow.
Variant Composting Days
1St. Dev.32St. Dev.71St. Dev.167St. Dev.
pH
A4.16 a0.073.64 a0.124.41 a0.134.47 a0.13
B5.12 b0.095.14 a0.085.26 b0.165.68 b0.17
C4.46 c0.165.65 ab0.175.38 b0.165.01 c0.15
TOC g kg−1
A478.9 a14.37469.6 a14.09455.6 a13.67458.4 a13.75
B431.4 b12.94409.1 ab12.27425.4 b11.25374.9 b11.25
C404.1c12.12403.3 b12.10399.1 b11.24374.8 c11.24
TN g kg−1
A4.30 a0.124.54 a0.145.59 a0.176.71 a0.20
B6.90 b0.208.343 b0.249.57 b0.2813.39 b0.39
C9.78 c0.2927.70 c0.8136.66 c1.1050.06 c1.46
TP g kg−1
A1.36 a0.051.26 a0.041.33 a0.051.39 a0.05
B1.12 b0.041.12 b0.041.55 b0.051.77 b0.06
C0.92 c0.041.60 c0.061.36 a0.051.03 c0.04
Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p < 0.05 (ANOVA).
Table
Table 2. Number of lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) after 20 days of incubation (number per pot, mean values).
Table 2. Number of lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) after 20 days of incubation (number per pot, mean values).
VariantComposting Days
13271167
A1091012
B14151513
C091214
Control8
●—significant at p < 0.05; LSD = 5.00 (ANOVA).
Table
Table 3. Lettuce yield obtained from seedlings after 20 days of experiment (grams per pot, mean values).
Table 3. Lettuce yield obtained from seedlings after 20 days of experiment (grams per pot, mean values).
VariantComposting Days
13271167
A1.221.831.131.35
B0.861.982.092.15
C4.781.9710.375.55
Control2.17
●—significant at p < 0.05; LSD = 2.52 (ANOVA).
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Bekier, J.; Jamroz, E.; Sowiński, J.; Adamczewska-Sowińska, K.; Kałuża-Haładyn, A. Effect of Differently Matured Composts from Willow on Growth and Development of Lettuce. Agronomy 2022, 12, 175. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12010175

AMA Style

Bekier J, Jamroz E, Sowiński J, Adamczewska-Sowińska K, Kałuża-Haładyn A. Effect of Differently Matured Composts from Willow on Growth and Development of Lettuce. Agronomy. 2022; 12(1):175. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12010175

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bekier, Jakub, Elżbieta Jamroz, Józef Sowiński, Katarzyna Adamczewska-Sowińska, and Andrea Kałuża-Haładyn. 2022. "Effect of Differently Matured Composts from Willow on Growth and Development of Lettuce" Agronomy 12, no. 1: 175. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12010175

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop