Growth of Rudbeckia and Leaching of Nitrates in Potting Media Amended with Composted Coffee Processing Residue,Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge

Composts made from coffee processing residue (CFPR), source separated municipal solid waste (MSW), sewage sludge and wood chips (SSWC), and sewage sludge, wood ash, wood chips and leaves (SSACL) were examined as replacements for the peat, perlite and sand found in a conventional potting medium. The perennial flower Rudbeckia hirta L. ‘Goldilocks’ (Black-Eyed Susan) was grown in media composed of 0, 10, 25, 50, 80, and 100 (percent by vol) of each compost. Leachate from media containing 0, 25, 50, and 100% compost was tested for NO₃-N and NH₃-N + NH₄-N to determine if compost would increase the potential for potting media to be a source of nitrate in surface and ground water. The effects of two mid season applications of liquid fertilizer on plant growth and nitrogen leaching were also examined.

Compared to a conventional medium without compost, differences in the growth of Rudbeckia in media with compost were few. Statistically significant decreases in growth occurred in media containing 80 and 100% CFPR, and 80% SSACL. None of the composts caused a statistically significant increase in growth. Leaching of nitrogen increased from media containing 100% CFPR, SSWC and SSACL compared to the medium with no compost. Media containing 25, 50, and 100% MSW leached less N the conventional medium. Liquid fertilizer did not significantly change the growth of Rudbeckia or the amount of nitrogen found in the leachate from any medium.     

Effects of hardwood sawdust in potting media containing biosolids compost on plant growth,fertilizer needs,and nitrogen leaching

Abstract

Biosolids compost is used in media to grow potted plants. Nitrogen (N) in media leachate may contribute to nitrate (NO₃‐N) contamination of surface or ground water. Addition of sawdust to potting media containing biosolids compost will increase the carbon (C) to nitrogen ratio and could prevent N leaching without adversely affecting plant growth. A control medium containing 0% sawdust (v/v), 30% perlite, 50% municipal biosolids compost, and 20% sand was modified to contain either 10, 20, or 30% (v/v) fresh hardwood sawdust. The sawdust replaced either 1/3, 2/3, or all of the perlite in the control medium. Slow release fertilizer, slow plus quick release fertilizer, or no fertilizer was added to each of the four media to determine how the sawdust affected fertilizer needs. Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora L.) and Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta L. ’Goldstrum') were grown in pots for five months. Leachate was tested for NO₃‐N and ammonium N (NH₄‐N). Increasing amounts of sawdust produced no differences in growth of Coreopsis and few differences in the growth of Rudbeckia. The addition of slow or slow plus quick release fertilizer had little effect on the growth of Coreopsis and a greater effect on the growth of Rudbeckia. Sawdust and fertilizer had no effect on the leaching of N. Nitrogen leached primarily as NH₄‐N during the first four weeks of the experiment.     

Mineralization and N Fertilizer Equivalent Value of Composts as Assessed by Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)

The capability to determine nitrogen availability of composts is necessary to ensure that such materials will provide sufficient fertilization to the growing crop and cause minimal environmental degradation. A greenhouse study using tall fescue as a bioindicator was used to evaluate nitrogen availability of two biosolids composts, two mixed yard waste-poultry manure composts, and one commercially-processed poultry litter. Five inorganic nitrogen (as NH₄NO₃-N) treatments applied at 0, 22.5, 45, 67.7, and 90 mg N/kg soil were employed to establish an N calibration curve. Yield, fescue biomass total nitrogen (as total Kjeldahl N (TKN)), and soil TKN and KCl extractable NO₃^?-N and NH₄⁺-N concentrations of the organically amended treatments were compared to the inorganically fertilized treatments to determine amendment N mineralization rates and N fertilizer equivalent values (NFEV). Nitrogen mineralization rates were greatest in the poultry litter (21%) and Panorama yard waste compost (5%) amended pots. The NFEV of these amendments were 49% and 10%, respectively. Wolf Creek biosolids compost and Huck's Hen Blend yard waste compost immobilized N (?5% and 0.18%, respectively), and had percent NFEV of ?0.66% and 0.19%, respectively. Rivanna biosolids compost immobilized N (?15%), but the NFEV was 30% due to the relatively high inorganic N content in the amendment. Nitrogen mineralization and NFEV were generally greater in amendments with greater total N concentrations and lower C:N values. The total N concentration and C:N values were less reliable variables in predicting N mineralization and percent NFEV when a significant portion of the total N was in the inorganic form. Nitrogen equivalency value and N mineralization for each amendment increased with time of sampling, indicating the potential for early season N insufficiency to plants fertilized with compost due to lack of synchrony between N mineralization and plant N needs.     

不同pH和不同氮素形态对小麦根中钙分布的影响

利用电镜技术研究了不同pH(4.0和6.0)和氮形态(NH4+-N和NO3---N)对小麦根系超微结构及根中Ca2+分布的影响。结果表明,1)pH.4.0处理下细胞结构中Ca2+明显少于pH.6.0处理;2)低pH造成质壁分离;3)铵态氮源处理下细胞结构中Ca2+明显少于硝态氮源处理,尤其体现在细胞间质、细胞壁、细胞膜上;4)铵态氮源处理也会导致细胞出现质壁分离,细胞结构松散,胞质外流;低pH加重这些现象。     

Effect of Adding Flue Gas Desulphurization Gypsum on the Transformation and Fate of Nitrogen during Composting

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of adding flue gas desulphurization gypsum (FGDG) on the transformation and fate of nitrogen during co-composting of dairy manure and pressmud of a sugar refinery. The ammonia absorption of FGDG was investigated. The changes in compost temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), moisture, organic matter, the C/N ratio, Kjeldahl N, NH₄⁺-N, NO₂^?-N, NO₃^?-N were assessed. The addition of FGDG did not significantly affect compost temperature, pH, EC, moisture, and organic matter degradation. However, the addition of FGDG significantly increased the NH₄⁺-N content in the compost during the thermophilic phase, and the NH₄⁺-N maximal content in the compost with FGDG (CP+G) was 59.9% more than that in the compost without FGDG (CP–G). FGDG was thought to create the formation of (NH₄)₂SO₄ and the cation exchange between NH₄⁺ and Ca²⁺. The NO₂^?-N content in the CP+G peaked on day 15, and was not observed in the CP–G. In the final compost products, the NO₃^?-N concentration in the CP–G was more than that in the CP+G, which was 1451 (CP–G) and 1109 mg·kg^?1 (CP+G) dry material. This might be due to the NO₂^? accumulation in the CP+G, which accelerated N loss in the form of N₂O. There is a strong correlation between N₂O emission and NO₂^?-N accumulation in the composting process. Compared with the original N content in the compost mixture, the N loss in CP–G and CP+G were 15.0 and 10.8%, respectively. These results revealed that NH₄⁺-N conservation effect was improved during the thermophilic phase and the total N loss was mitigated by adding FGDG into composting materials. FGDG could be utilized as a potential amendment to conserve nitrogen during composting.     

氮在紫色土中的移动和水稻氮素利用率的研究

利用养分渗漏池研究了紫色土中氮肥品种、用量对氮素移动、淋失和水稻氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明:淹水期间淋失的氮素基本形态是NH4+-N,主要分布在土壤表层,并随时间而下移;NH4+-N 淋失量与降雨量呈显著正相关;氯化铵促进了NH4+-N 的淋失,但其氮肥利用率比尿素高8 个百分点,说明水稻上可酌施含氯化肥;增施氮肥增加了NH4+-N 的淋失量,减少了氮肥利用率,建议水稻施氮控制在150kg/hm2。     

Leaching of Nitrate,Ammonium, and Phosphate From Compost Amended Soil Columns

Compost amendment to agricultural soils has been reported to reduce disease incidence, conserve soil moisture, control weeds, or improve soil fertility. Application rate and placement of compost largely depends on the proposed beneficial effects and the rate may vary from 25 to 250 Mg ha^?1 (N content up to 4 percent). Application of high rates of compost with high N or P levels may result in excessive leaching of nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate into the groundwater. Leaching could be a serious concern on the east coast of Florida with its inherent high annual rainfall, sandy soils and shallow water table. In this study, five composts (sugarcane filtercake, biosolids, and mixtures of municipal solid wastes and biosolids) were applied on the surface of an Oldsmar sand soil (in 7.5 cm diameter leaching columns) at 100 Mg ha^?1 rate and leached with deionized water (300 ml day^?1, for five days; equivalent to 34 cm rainfall). The concentrations of NO₃-N, NH₄-N, and PO₄-P in leachate reached as high as 246, 29, and 7 mg L^?1, respectively. The amount of N and P leached accounted for 3.3-15.8 percent of total N and 0.2-2.8 percent of total P in the compost. The leaching peaks of NO₃-N occurred following the application of only 300-400 ml water (equivalent to 6.8-9.1 cm rainfall).     

The Maturity and CH4, N2O,NH3 Emissions from Vermicomposting with Agricultural Waste

This study investigated the maturity and gaseous emissions from vermicomposing with agricultural waste. A vermicomposting treatment (inoculated Eisenia fetida) was conducted over a 50-day period, taking tomato stems as the processing object and using cow dung as the nutrient substrate. A thermophilic composting treatment without earthworm inoculation was operated as a control treatment. During the experiment, maturity indexes such as temperature, pH, C/N ratio, and germination index (GI) were determined and continuous measurements of earthworm biomass and CH₄, N₂O, and NH₃ emissions were carried out. The results showed that the temperature during vermicomposting was suitable for earthworm survival, and the earthworm biomass increased from 10.0 to 63.1 kg m^?3. Vermicomposting took less time on average to reach the compost maturity standard (GI 80%), and reached a higher GI (132%) in the compost product compared with the thermophilic composting treatment. Moreover, the decrease of the C/N ratio in vermicompost indicated stabilization of the waste. The activities of earthworms played a positive role in reducing gaseous emissions in vermicompost, resulting in less emissions of NH₃ (12.3% NH₃-N of initial nitrogen) and total greenhouse gases (8.1 kg CO₂-eq/t DM) than those from thermophilic compost (24.9% NH₃-N of initial nitrogen, 22.8 kg CO₂-eq/t DM). Therefore, it can be concluded that vermicomposting can shorten the period required to reach compost maturity, can obtain better maturity compost, and at the same time reduce gaseous emissions. As an added advantage, the earthworms after processing could have commercial uses.     

Impact of Organic Amendments on Groundwater Nitrogen Concentrations for Sandy and Calcareous Soils

Experiments were conducted on calcareous and sandy soils to investigate the effects of organic amendments for vegetable production on groundwater nitrogen (N) concentration in south Florida. The treatments consisted of applying yard and food residuals compost, biosolids compost, a cocompost of the municipal solid waste and biosolids, and inorganic fertilizer. Nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄-N), and total N concentrations were collected for a period of two years for both soils. Statistical analysis results revealed that for the three species tested, there were no significant differences among treatments. NO₃-N concentrations for all treatments remained less than the maximum contamination level (10 mg/L). NO₃-N transport to groundwater was higher in calcareous soil (mean=5.3 mg/L) than in sandy soil (mean=0.6 mg/L). NH₄-N concentrations ranged from 0 to 13.6 mg/L throughout the experiment. Calcareous soil had lower NH₄-N concentrations (mean=0.1 mg/L) than sandy soils (mean=0.7 mg/L). Total N ranged from 0.4 to 21.7 mg/L for all treatments for both soils reflecting high adsorption of dissolved organic N in both soils. Overall, results indicated that all the compost treatments were comparable to inorganic fertilizer with regard to N leaching and N concentrations in the groundwater while producing similar or higher yields.     

不同灌溉施肥方式下尿素态氮在土壤中迁移转化特性的研究

采用室内土柱模拟试验方法 ,研究了不同灌溉施肥方式下尿素态氮在土壤中的迁移、淋溶和转化特征。结果表明 ,灌水量及水肥供应方式是决定尿素态氮在土壤中迁移、转化和淋失的关键因素。氮素淋溶量随灌水量的增加而增加 ;与浇灌施肥相比 ,滴灌施肥显著地降低了氮素的淋溶损失。在淋失的氮素形态中 ,以尿素态氮为主 ,其次为硝态氮 ,铵态氮的淋失量最低。灌水量低时 ,滴灌施肥铵态氮在土壤上层明显累积 ;灌水量增加后 ,这种累积作用减弱。灌水量低时 ,灌溉施肥的土壤硝态氮变化呈上低下高 ,增加灌水量降低了土壤中硝态氮含量 ;滴灌施肥显著地减少了尿素态氮的淋溶损失 ,增加了土壤中有效态氮的含量。     

堆肥对泥炭基质中重金属、氮、磷的影响

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effect of compost amendment on mobility and leaching potential of heavy metals, nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） from a peat-based commercial container medium containing 700 g kg^-1 peat, 200 g kg^-1 perlite and 100 g kg^-1 vermiculite at varying amendment rates of compost （0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 L L^-1）. Increasing compost amendment significantly and linearly increased the pH （P 〈 0.01）, the total concentrations of organic carbon （P 〈 0.05）, copper （Cu） （P 〈 0.01）, cadmium （ca） （P 〈 0.01）, and lead （Pb） （P 〈 0.01）, and increased the bulk density （P 〈 0.01） of the medium. The electrical conductivity （EC）, and total N and P of the medium increased significantly （P 〈 0.01） and quadratically with increasing compost amendment. The relationship of the C/N ratio of the medium with the compost amendment rate was decreasing, significant （P 〈 0.01） and cubic, while that of the total Zn was increasing, significant （P 〈 0.01） and cubic. Extractable P, NO3-N, and NH4-N increased initially with an increasing compost amendment of up to 0.50 L L^-1 and then decreased with further increasing compost rate. Increasing compost rates resulted in a highly significant （P 〈 0.01） and linear increase in total Cd, Cu, and Pb, and a highly significant （P 〈 0.01） and cubic increase in total Zn in the medium. Increasing compost rates also significantly （P 〈 0.01） increased extractable Cu （linearly） and Zn （quadratically）, but significantly （P 〈 0.01） decreased extractable Pb （linearly）. There was no significant effect of compost amendment on the extractable Cd concentration in the medium. However, with increasing compost rates from 0.25 to 1.00 L L^-1, extractability of P, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn （extractable concentration as a percent of total） was decreased, indicating that compost amendment could lower the leachability of these elements from the medium.     

Response of Container-Grown Nursery Crops to Raw and Composted Paper Mill Sludges

Growth and nutrient uptake of three container grown nursery crops were compared using different potting media, including bark mixed with varying amounts, 0, 33, 67, and 100% by volume, of raw paper mill sludge and Phase I (fresh) and Phase II (aged) sludge composts. Species grown were: Tartarian dogwood (Cornus alba L.), Coral Beauty cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri C. K. Schneid.), and Variegata Nana weigela [Weigela florida (Bunge) A.DC.]. Each compost consisted of ca. 40% paper mill sludge. Despite differences in response of species to the amount and source of sludge, plants grew well in media containing Phase I and II composts and produced plants of marketable size at harvest. Media with >33% raw sludge resulted in fewer marketable plants and had a greater volume reduction with increasing amounts of sludge. This was also accompanied by declining shoot and root dry weight. Media containing Phase I compost showed less volume reduction than those with raw sludge, and yielded growth comparable to that obtained with Phase II compost. Media containing Phase II compost showed only marginal volume reduction. Changes in leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn were small, or nonsignificant. All nutrients except N were related to growth or amount of raw sludge or compost, although all species did not show the same response with each nutrient. The results showed that up to 33% of raw paper mill sludge or any amount of sludge compost was an effective substitute for bark. Since growth was not affected substantially by the age of the compost, the additional time and cost of producing Phase II compost may be unwarranted.     

Apparent availability of nitrogen in composted municipal refuse

The use of composted municipal refuse on agricultural land requires prior knowledge of the interactions among compost, soil, and plants. Research into the availability of N in highly matured municipal refuse compost is particularly important considering the current concern about groundwater contamination by NO _inf3 ^sup- -N. A greenhouse pot bioassay was conducted to determine the percentage of short-term apparent bioavailable N of a highly matured refuse compost and its relative efficiency in supplying inorganic N to the soil-plant system in comparison with NH₄NO₃. Municipal refuse (after 165 days of composting) was applied at rates equivalent to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 t ha^-1 to a ferrallitic soil from Tenerife Island (Andeptic Paludult). NH₄NO₃ was applied at rates equivalent to the total N content of the compost treatments. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was grown in 3-kg pots and the tops were harvested at regular intervals after seedling emergence. The compost increased dry matter yield, soil mineral N, and plant N uptake proportional to the applied rate. These increases were significantly higher than the control at an application rate of 20 t ha^-1. After 6 months the apparent bioavailable N ranged from 16 to 21%. The relative efficiency was 43% after 30 days. This suggests that large inputs of inorganic N into soil can be obtained with high rates of this kind of compost, with a potential for NO _inf3 ^sup- -N contamination. However, applied at moderate rates in our bioassay (<50 t ha^-1), compost showed a low N-supplying capacity to ryegrass, i.e. a small fraction of the mineralized compost N was used by plants in the course of time. This was ascribed to a partial biological immobilization. This pattern of N availability in highly matured municipal refuse compost, positive net mineralization but partial immobilization, is similar to the pattern of N availability in biologically active soils and is therefore extremely interesting for the conservation of N in agro-ecosystems.     

Nitrogen Availability from Compost in High Tunnel Tomato Production

High yield agricultural systems, such as high tunnel (HT) vegetable production, require a large supply of soil nutrients, especially nitrogen (N). Compost is a common amendment used by HT growers both to supply nutrients and to improve physical and biological soil properties. We examined commercially-available composts and their effects on soil N, plant N uptake, and tomato yield in HT cultivation. In addition, a laboratory study examined N and carbon (C) mineralization from the composts, and the usefulness of compost properties as predictors of compost N mineralization was assessed under field and laboratory conditions. The field study used a randomized complete block design with four replications to compare four compost treatments (all added at the rate of 300 kg total N ha^?1) with unamended soil and an inorganic N treatment (110 kg N ha^?1). Tomatoes were grown in Monmouth, Maine during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Compost NO₃^?-N and NH₄⁺-N application rates were significantly correlated with soil NO₃^?-N and NH₄⁺-N concentrations throughout the growing season. Marketable yield was positively correlated with compost total inorganic N and NO₃^?-N in both years, and with NH₄⁺-N in 2014. There were no significant differences among composts in percentage of organic N mineralized and no correlations were observed with any measured compost property. In the laboratory study, all compost-amended soils had relatively high rates of CO₂ release for the initial few days and then the rates declined. The compost-amended soils mineralized 4%–6% of the compost organic N. This study suggested compost inorganic N content controls N availability to plants in the first year after compost application.     

堆肥反应器中硫磺对牛粪好氧堆肥的保氮效果研究

利用堆肥反应器严格控制堆肥条件,以牛粪和蘑菇渣为原料进行好氧堆肥,在堆肥过程中添加硫磺粉,研究硫磺对堆肥温度、pH、氮素转化、硫素转化和保氮效果的影响。结果表明,堆肥中添加0.5%硫磺粉（T1）对堆肥温度没有显著影响,高温期（≥50℃）维持5.5 d; 而添加1.0%硫磺粉(T2)能快速升温,但堆肥高温期维持时间4.6 d。添加不同量的硫磺粉均能显著降低堆肥pH,与CK比较差异显著。添加硫磺粉能大幅度增加铵态氮含量,至堆肥结束时,T1和T2处理铵态氮含量分别是CK处理的15倍和24倍,差异极显著; 还增加了堆肥有效硫含量,至堆肥结束T1和T2有效硫含量分别较堆肥初始增加35.7%和77.1%。整个堆肥过程总氮（TN）含量呈增加的趋势,堆肥结束时CK、T1和T2处理的TN含量分别达15.8、16.5和16.9 g/kg,T1和T2分别比CK处理增加4.4%和7.0%。说明在牛粪好氧堆肥中添加0.5%或1.0%硫磺粉,均可起到一定的保氮作用,可大幅度提高堆肥铵态氮和有效硫的含量,改善了堆肥养分品质; 而且添加1.0%硫磺粉效果好于0.5%硫磺粉。但是添加1.0%硫磺粉缩短了堆肥高温期,降低了种子发芽指数,不利于堆肥的无害化进程。     

Toxicity Evaluation of Weathered Coal Fly Ash–Amended Manure Compost

The general use of manure compost is limited by its residualtoxicity, and hence a study was performed to evaluate the use ofweathered coal fly ash (lagoon ash) to alleviate the toxicity ofmanure compost. Mature and immature manure compost were amendedwith lagoon ash at 0, 5, 10 and 20% (w/w dry weight basis), andtheir phyto-toxicity was evaluated by germination and root lengthgrowth of lettuce seed. The immature manure compost hadsignificantly higher contents of NH₄-N, PO₄-P, andacid- and water-extractable Cu and Zn contents than those of mature manure compost. Ash amendment caused asignificant increase in electrical conductivity (EC), but adecrease in NH₄-N, PO₄-P, and DTPA-, CaCl₂- andwater-extractable Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn contents of both manurecompost. Addition of lagoon ash at a rate of 5% for immaturemanure compost and 10% for mature manure compost resulted in ahigher seed germination rate and root length growth. Thegermination index demonstrated significant negative correlationswith EC, NH₄-N and DTPA extractable Cd, Cu, Pb and Zncontents. The present study supports the use of lagoon ash foramending manure compost to reduce the availability of traceelements and NH₄-N.     

Phosphorus uptake of maize as affected by ammonium and nitrate nitrogen - Measurements and model calculations -

Phosphorus uptake is often enhanced by ammonium compared to nitrate nitrogen nutrition of plants. A decrease of pH at the soil-root interface is generally assumed as the cause. However, an alteration of root growth and the mobilization of P by processes other than net release of protons induced by the source of nitrogen may also be considered. To study these alternatives a pot experiment was conducted with maize using a fossil Oxisol high in Fe/Al-P with low soil solution P concentration. Three levels of phosphate (0, 50, 200 mg P kg^?1) in combination with either ammonium or nitrate nitrogen (100 mg N kg^?1) were applied. Plants were harvested 7 and 21 d after sowing, P uptake measured and root and shoot growth determined. To assess the importance of factors involved in the P transfer from soil into plants, calculations were made using a model of Barber and Claassen. In the treatments with no and low P supply NH₄-N compared to NO₃-N nutrition increased the growth of the plants by 25 % and their shoot P content by 38 % while their root growth increased by 6 % only. The rhizosphere pH decreased in the NH₄-N treatments by 0.1 to 0.6 units as compared to the bulk soil while in the NO₃-N treatments it increased by 0.1 to 0.5 units. These pH changes had a minor influence on P uptake only, as was demonstrated by artificially altering the soil pH to 4.7 and 6.3 respectively. At the same rhizosphere pH, however, P influx was doubled by the application of NH₄-compared to NO₃-N. It is concluded that in this soil the enhancement of P uptake of maize plants after ammonium application cannot be attributed to the acidification of the rhizosphere but to effects mobilizing soil phosphate or increasing P uptake efficiency of roots. Model calculation showed that these effects accounted for 53 % of the P influx per unit root length in the NO₃-N and 72 % in the NH₄-N supplied plants if no P was applied. With high P application the respective figures were only 18 and 19%.     

The Effects of Goat Manure,Sewage Sludge And Effective Microorganisms on the Composting of Pine Bark

This study investigated the cocomposting of pine bark with goat manure or sewage sludge, with or without inoculated effective microorganisms (EM). Composting was done for 90 days and parameters monitored over this period included temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N ratio, inorganic N, as well as tannin content. Changes in temperature, pH and EC during composting were consistent with those generally observed with other composting systems. The parameters were influenced by the feedstock materials used but were not affected by inoculation with effective microorganisms. The highest temperature measured from pine bark-goat manure composts was 60°C but much lower maximum temperatures of 40°C and 30°C were observed for pine bark sewage sludge and pine bark alone composts, respectively. The C/N ratios of the composts decreased with composting time. Ammonium levels decreased while nitrate levels increased with composting time. Tannin levels generally decreased with composting time but the extent of decrease depended on the contents of the composting mixtures. The trends observed showed that temperature, pH, EC, C/N ratio, tannin levels, and inorganic NH₄-N and NO₃-N were reliable parameters for monitoring the co-composting of pine bark with goat manure or sewage sludge. The pine bark-goat manure compost had more desirable nutritional properties than the pine bark and pine bark-sewage sludge composts. It had high CEC, near neutral pH, low C/N ratio, and high amounts of inorganic N and bases (K, Ca, and Mg) while pine bark compost had the least amounts of nutrients, was acidic, and had high C/N ratio and low CEC. The final tannin content of the pine bark-goat manure compost was below the 20 g/kg upper threshold level for horticultural potting media, implying that its use as a growing medium would not cause toxicity to plants.     

Evaluation of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate as a nitrification inhibitor in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus</Emphasis>-cultivated soil

 The objectives of this work were to evaluate the inhibitory action on nitrification of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) added to ammonium sulphate nitrate [(NH₄)₂SO₄ plus NH₄NO₃; ASN] in a Citrus-cultivated soil, and to study its effect on N uptake. In a greenhouse experiment, 2 g N as ASN either with or without 0.015 g DMPP (1% DMPP relative to NH₄ ⁺-N) was applied 6 times at 20-day intervals to plants grown in 14-l pots filled with soil. Addition of DMPP to ASN resulted in higher levels of NH₄ ⁺-N and lower levels of NO₃ ^–-N in the soil during the whole experimental period. The NO₃ ^–-N concentration in drainage water was lower in the ASN plus DMPP (ASN+DMPP)-treated pots. Also, DMPP supplementation resulted in greater uptake of the fertilizer-N by citrus plants. In another experiment, 100 g N as ASN, either with or without 0.75 g DMPP (1% DMPP relative to NH₄ ⁺-N) was applied to 6-year-old citrus plants grown individually outdoors in containers. Concentrations of NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N at different soil depths and N distribution in the soil profile after consecutive flood irrigations were monitored. In the ASN-amended soil, nitrification was faster, whereas the addition of the inhibitor led to the maintenance of relatively high levels of NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N in soil for longer than when ASN was added alone. At the end of the experiment (120 days) 68.5% and 53.1% of the applied N was leached below 0.60 m in the ASN and ASN+DMPP treatments, respectively. Also, leaf N levels were higher in plants fertilized with ASN+DMPP. Collectively, these results indicate that the DMPP nitrification inhibitor improved N fertilizer efficiency and reduced NO₃ ^– leaching losses by retaining the applied N in the ammoniacal form. Received: 31 May 1999     

Effects of Changing Land Use from Agriculture to Forest on Stream Water Quality in a Small Basin in NW Spain

Monitoring was conducted in a basin with a history of agricultural pollution (mainly due to the spreading of livestock slurry) to evaluate the response of stream water ion concentrations to the change from agricultural land use to forest. We measured pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and major dissolved elements [phosphate (PO₄) phosphorus (P), nitrite (NO₂) nitrogen (N), nitrate (NO₃) N, ammonium (NH₄) N, silicon (Si), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfate (SO₄), and chloride (Cl)] in the stream water during the period 1997–2002 at irregular time intervals. Median values were significantly greater in the agricultural period than in the forest period (P < 0.05). Median pH values remained slightly acidic (5.8–6) for both land uses. NO₃-N was the dominant form of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) under both land uses (agricultural use: 80 percent; forest use: 98 percent. In the forest period, the median PO₄-P and NH₄-N concentrations were reduced by 95 percent compared to the agricultural period. The median NO₂-N and K concentrations decreased by 83 percent and 70 percent, respectively, whereas NO₃-N, Cl, Na, and Si showed minor differences (decreases of 15–20 percent). These findings are consistent with the poor agricultural management practices that have been developed in the basin, especially as regards the application of slurry.