The Effect of MSW Compost on Metal Uptake and Yield Of Wheat,Barley and Canola in Less Productive Farming Soils of Alberta

Experiments were started in May 1998 at two sites to measure various crop responses to a mixed municipal solid waste-biosolids cocompost (named Nutri Plus) and examine the fate of certain metals associated with Nutri Plus compost. There were six treatments: Check, 50, 100, and 200 T compost/ha, NPKS (75 kg nitrogen (N) /ha, 20 kg phosphorus (P)/ha, 45 kg potassium (K) and 18 kg sulphur (S)/ha), PK (20 kg P, 45 kg K/ha), and three crops: canola (Brassica rapa cv. ‘Hysyn 110’), wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. ‘Roblin’) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. ‘Lacombe’). Each treatment was replicated four times and was in a complete randomized block design. In the compost treatments, 20 kg P and 45 kg K were applied due to low concentration of these two nutrients in the compost. Soil and plant samples were analyzed for nutrient content such as N, P and K. In addition, plant samples and soil samples after the compost application were also analyzed for elemental content of As, B, Cr, Co, Cu, Zn Se, Mo, Cd, Hg and Pb. The research results show that the compost slightly increased heavy metal concentrations in the soil but did not cause any phytoxicity to crops. Yield from 100 and 200 T/ha application was higher with the compost than with NPKS treatment. However, the yield of the 50 T/ha application was similar to that of NPKS treatment. Comparing the two sites, the compost apparently was more beneficial at Site 1 than at Site 2 in the year of application. This is likely due to the lower indigenous soil fertility and poor soil physical properties at Site 1. The N content in cereal grains was similar among the compost treatments but lower than the Check and NPKS treatments due to the diluting effect of higher yield. The oil content in canola seed was similar among all treatments. The results suggest that Nutri Plus compost applications generated positive yield responses in all three crops. Crop yield increased as the application rate increased. Heavy metal loading was not an immediate problem with the compost application, although it will limit total compost application over time to the same soil