Effect of Annual Amendments of Compost on Nitrate Leaching in Nursery Stock

Municipal solid waste (MSW) compost was applied at rates of 56 and 112 t/ha (incorporated) and 224 t/ha (mulch) to mitigate topsoil loss in nursery stock production. In two years, nitrate concentrations in ground water beneath all plots remained below 10 ppm with no significant differences between treatments.

In another experiment, nitrate in ground water was measured beneath a high coductive sandy terrace soil amended with a variety of composts. In one experiment, spent mushroom compost (SMC) and chicken manure compost (CMC) were applied yearly at rates of 56 and 112 t/ha to provide all the fertilizer requirements for intensive vegetable production. Nitrate concentrations in ground water beneath all compost-amended plots remained below 10 ppm during the three-year study, while concentrations beneath the fertilized control reached 14.7 ppm in an unusually wet spring. After heavy rains, control plots were more susceptible to nitrate leaching than compost-amended plots in the first two years of the study. The overall mean of the control (4.2 ppm) was significantly higher than all the other compost amended plots except SMC amended at 56 t/ha (3.4 ppm). Nitrate concentrations in ground water from CMC plots amended at 112 t/ha peaked at 9.2 ppm after three consecutive years of compost application suggesting a cumulative effect which was substantiated by soil analysis.

The first experiment is described below. Results of the second experiment were previously presented in Compost Science & Utilization (“Nitrate Leaching From Compost Amended Soils” (1993) Vol 1, No. 2, 65-72).     

Sustained Vegetable Production for Three Years Using Composted Animal Manures

Intensive vegetable production trials were conducted for three years at Windsor (sandy terrace soil) and Mt. Carmel Connecticut (loamy upland soil) following yearly applications of spent mushroom compost (SMC) and chicken manure compost (CMC) applied at two rates (56 or 112 t/ha) as the sole source of nutrients. Yields of seven crops from these amended plots were compared to yields from control plots fertilized with NPK fertilizer. Yields of all vegetables increased as the rate of compost increased. Average yields of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), and spring and fall broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) on all CMC-amended plots at both rates and sites in all years equaled or were greater than fertilized controls. Yields of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) from all compost-amended plots at both sites in all years equaled or were greater than fertilized controls. Cauliflower (spring and fall) (Brassica oleracea L.) yields from CMC-amended plots (both rates) equaled or exceeded the fertilized control in all years with one exception. Spent mushroom compost added to plots at 112 t/ha produced yields of eggplant, tomatoes, and spring cauliflower equal to the fertilized control at both sites in all years. After three consecutive years of application, there appears to be a negative cumulative effect to compost additions for eggplant and peppers and a modest positive effect for cauliflower at rates applied in this study.     

Cumulative Effect of Annual Additions of MSW Compost on the Yield of Field-Grown Tomatoes

For three years, source separated municipal solid waste (MSW) compost was applied in the field at two rates (25 and 50 T/A) and planted with tomatoes. Average yield (lbs/plant) from plots amended with 50 T/A MSW compost was significantly greater all three years than the unamended controls. Yield from plots amended with 25 T/A MSW compost was significantly greater than the unamended control only in 1993. The average number of tomatoes per plant and the average weight of each tomato were also greater from the compost-amended plots. The addition of 50 T/A MSW compost for three years raised the pH of the soil from 5.8 to 6.4 and raised the percent organic matter 84 percent. The concentration of nitrate in plots amended yearly with 50 T/A MSW compost was three fold greater than the unamended control.     

Applying Leaf Compost to Reduce Fertilizer Use In Tomato Production

For two consecutive years, one-inch (50 T/A) of leaf compost was applied to plots on a sandy terrace soil (Windsor, Connecticut) and a loamy upland soil (Mt. Carmel, Connecticut). These compost-amended plots were fertilized with 10-10-10 (N-P₂O_5-K₂O) at three rates: 0, 650 (half), 1300 (full) lb/A and cottonseed meal at a rate of 2166 lb/A. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) yield from compost-amended plots were compared to yield from unamended control plots fertilized with 1300 lb 10-10-10/A. In both years, at both sites, plots only amended with compost had yields equivalent to the fertilized control plots. In both years, the greatest yields at Mt. Carmel were from plots amended with compost and the full rate of inorganic fertilizer. In the second year, yields from compost-amended plots fertilized at half the rate were equivalent to compost-amended plots fertilized at full rate. The yields from the organic plots were similar to the control plots the first year and to plots amended with compost and half the rate of fertilizer the second year. At Windsor, the greatest yields for both years were from plots amended with compost and the full rate of fertilizer. The compost-amended plots fertilized with cottonseed meal produced the lowest yields, both years. Cumulative effects of compost on soils were measured by increases in pH and organic matter percentage at both sites. Tomato fruit in plots amended with compost and no fertilizer developed less blossom-end rot than fruit in all other treatments.     

Cumulative Effect of Annual Additions of Undecomposed Leaves and Compost on the Yield of Field-Grown Peppers

For three years, undecomposed leaves were applied on a sandy terrace soil (Windsor) and a loamy upland soil (Mt. Carmel) in spring or fall. Yields of peppers from these plots were compared to yields from plots amended with fully mature leaf compost and unamended controls. In general, the greatest pepper yields were from plots amended at both sites with leaf compost and the smallest yields were from plots amended with leaves in the fall. At both sites, higher yields were due to increased number of peppers/plant. The reduction in yields from plots amended with leaves in the fall appear unrelated to nitrogen immobilization as nitrogen concentrations were greater or similar to the unamended control plots. The possible role of phenol phytotoxicity from the fall applied leaves is discussed.     

A Four-Year Study on Influence of Biosolids/MSW Cocompost Application in Less Productive Soils In Alberta: Nutrient Dynamics

Composting municipal solid waste and biosolids and applying it on arable land have become an alternative way to treat waste in large municipalities in North America. However, cost of compost transportation and application constrains the compost use on the land further away from where it is produced. A four-year experiment was conducted (1998-2001) in less productive soils in Alberta to determine the effect of once in four year application of cocompost on soil nutrient dynamics and crop N uptakes. There were three crop blocks: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L), and canola (Brassica rapa), and they were rotated annually. The compost was only applied in 1998 at a rate of 50, 100 and 200 t/ha. Soil samples were taken in spring of every year after initial compost application to determine extractable N, P, K, S, Cu, Zn, Soil pH and EC. Each year, crops were harvested and N uptake was determined. Total concentrations of an array of heavy metals in the first year and fourth year after compost application were determined as well. The results showed that the release of N from the compost was high in the first year after compost application and then declined in each subsequent year. Similar to that release pattern was sulphur. The release of phosphorus from compost was steady throughout the four-year experimental time. Crop N uptake from compost application varied with crops and sites. The over all N use efficiency for three crops and two sites was 11%, 3%, 1% and 2% for the first and subsequent three years. The total heavy metal concentrations in the compost amended soils in the first and fourth year after compost application were similar, and they were below the standard of Canadian Fertilizer Act. Our results showed that N released from compost occurred mostly in the first two years after application, suggesting that an application frequency of once in every second year may be better than the once in every four year application strategy, especially with 100 t/ha application rate.     

Mulching With Composted MSW for Biological Control Of Weeds in Vegetable Crops

Compost maturity is one of several issues that the composting industry must face as it attempts to provide a high quality product to the agricultural community. In this paper, we examine the potential for using immature compost prepared from a mixture of municipal solid waste (MSW) and biosolids as a mulch for control of weeds in vegetable crop row-alleys. Two field experiments were conducted with 4 and 8-week-old composts in the fall of 1995 and the spring of 1996. The 4-week-old compost was applied to mulching depths of 3.8 (68 t dry weight .ha^?1), 7.5 (135 t dry weight .ha^?1), 11.3 (203 t dry weight .ha^?1), and 15 cm (270 t dry weight .ha^?1) in the fall, and at 2.0 (35 t dry weight .ha^?1), 3.8, 7.5, and 11.3 cm depths in the spring. Other treatments were paraquat applied at 0.6 kg.ha^?1 and an untreated control. All treatments were applied in row-alleys between raised, polyethylene-covered soil beds. The 8-week-old compost was applied to depths of 3.8, 7.5, 11.3, and 15 cm in fall and to depths of 2.0, 3.8, 7.5 and 11.3 cm in the spring. Untreated alleys served as controls. In the fall 1995 experiment under low weed pressures, the 4-week-old compost applied to 7.5 cm or greater depths completely inhibited weed germination and growth for 240 days after treatment. In the spring 1996 experiment, 4-week-old compost completely inhibited weed germination and growth for only 65 days if applied to a depth of 7.5 cm or deeper due to higher prevailing weed pressures, particularly due to yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.). In the same spring experiment, a 50 % reduction in percentage weed cover was obtained for 240 days with a 11.25 cm deep layer of mulch compared to the control. In the fall 1995 experiment, 8-week-old compost applied at 7.5 cm or depths completely inhibited weed germination and growth for 240 days. In the spring 1996 experiment, 8-week-old compost applied as a 11.25 cm mulch reduced percent weed cover as compared to the control up to 240 days. In general, weed cover and weed dry weight decreased linearly as the depth of the mulch increased.Under these immature composts, inhibition of germination or subsequent weed growth may have been due to both the physical effects of the mulch and the concentrations of phytotoxic fatty acids during the first few days after mulches were applied. At the time of mulching with the 4-week old compost, acetic acid was present at a concentration of 1221 mg.kg^?1 in the fall mulch, and at 4128 mg.kg^?1 in the spring mulch. The same concentrations in the 8-week-old compost for the fall and spring mulches were 1118 mg.kg^?1 and 3113 mg.kg^?1, respectively. In conclusion, immature compost may provide an effective alternative weed control method for row-alleys in vegetable crop production systems. During these experiments, it was observed that man-made contaminants such as glass, hard and soft plastics in the composts were esthetically unacceptable and potentially posed hazards to field workers.     

Utilization of MSW Compost and other Organic Mulches on Commercial Vegetable Crops

Increased availability of commercially derived composts and problems with disposal of polyethylene mulch are factors which precipitated an investigation of the long term effects of organic and polyethylene film mulches on soils, plant growth, and yields. Three experiments were performed comparing polyethylene film mulch (PM) with mulches of commercial municipal solid waste compost (MW), dried sewage sludge (SS) and wood chips (WC). In 1990, bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) plants on PM yielded 8.9 t'ha“1, which was significantly higher than the 1.9,4.6, and 7.2 t?ha^?1 produced at MW compost rates of 13, 40 and 121 t?ha^?1, respectively. Yields increased linearly with increasing rates of compost mulch. In spring, 1992, each organic material was applied at 224 and 336 t?ha^?1 and winter (spaghetti) squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) was seeded. Soil moisture was higher under organic mulches than under PM. Soil temperatures in the mornings were not significantly different among mulches, but in the afternoons: SS>PM>MW>WC. Plants grown on PM had larger shoots and roots and produced more fruit per plant, but, because of plant losses to disease, had lower total yields than plants grown in MW and WC. Higher soil Na content occurred in MW plots and high electrical conductivity (EC) occurred in soils of SS plots. In fall, 1992, bell peppers transplanted into the same plots produced 4.7, 4.5, 3.3, and 2.7 t?ha^?1 from PM, MW, WC, and SS, respectively. Soil tests detected higher NO₃-N in WC plots, higher K in PM, higher Zn in MW, and lower Mn and higher Mg in SS plots, than in other treatments. Vegetables grown on PM produced higher fruit yields than those on organic mulches, however, plant losses to disease were also highest in PM plots. Environmental and economic considerations and governmental regulations may encourage organic mulch utilization by commercial vegetable growers.     

Cumulative Effect of Leaf Compost on Yield And Size Distribution in Onions

For three years, a one inch layer of leaf compost was applied to plots on a sandy terrace soil in Windsor, Connecticut and fertilized with 1300 lb 10-10-10/A (N-P₂O₅-K₂O). Yields of four cultivars of onions (Allium cepa L.) (3 Spanish, 1 storage) from these plots were compared to yields from unamended control plots fertilized at the same rate. Year to year variability in yields was significantly lower in compost-amended plots. Yields from the unamended control plots (52% variation) fluctuated more than the compost-amended plots (3% variation) in response to variable rainfall from year to year. After three years of compost additions, yields from the compost-amended plots of the three Spanish onion cultivars were significantly greater than yields of these cultivars grown in unamended plots. The greater yields were due to both increased bulb weight and greater percent harvested. In two of three years, the compost-amended plots produced a greater percentage of colossal and jumbo sized onions in all cultivars. Repeated compost additions also reduced the incidence of soft rot disease, especially in susceptible cultivars in years with higher than average precipitation.     

Use of Raw and Composted Paper Sludge as a Soil Additive or Mulch for Cottonwood Plants

Pulp and paper sludge is a by-product of paper production and may be suitable in agricultural applications as a soil amendment or mulch. The objective of this study was to evaluate raw and composted pulp and paper sludge as soil additives or mulches for cottonwood plants. Primary sludge, a combination of by-products from bleached kraft and neutral sulfite semichemical paper, was mixed with tailings, slaughterhouse paunch, and 10 percent wood ash (by volume), and used raw or composted and cured in the field for 39 weeks. Cuttings of two cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh) clones were planted in a field soil (Quincy loamy fine sand) that was mixed (incorporated) or mulched (placed on top the soil) with raw or composted sludge mixtures at application rates of 0,45,90, 135 and 180 Mg/ha. The plants were grown in a plastic house for nine weeks. Electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soluble Cl and extractable Na in soil amended with 180 Mg/ha of compost were 37, 22, 197 and 138 percent higher, respectively, than those of soil amended with the raw sludge mixture at the same rate. Bulk density of amended soil decreased, whereas soil aeration and water-holding capacity increased as sludge application rate increased. After nine weeks, raw or composted sludge applied at a rate of 135 Mg/ha, whether used as a mulch or incorporated, improved cottonwood plant height by 40 percent and stem diameter by 20 percent compared to plants grown in nonamended, nonmulched (control) soil. These results indicate that the pulp and paper sludge mixtures, whether raw or composted, improved soil characteristics and aided establishment of cottonwood cuttings.     

Effects of cover crops,compost, and manure amendments on soil microbial community structure in tomato production systems

Soil microbial community structure and crop yield was investigated in field tomato production systems that compared black polyethylene mulch to hairy vetch mulch and inorganic N to organic N. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) hairy vetch cover cropping increases crop yield and significantly affects soil microbial community structure when compared to the standard plastic mulch and synthetic fertilizer-based system; (2) within plastic mulch systems, organic amendments will increase crop yield and significantly affect soil microbial community structure when compared to synthetic fertilizer; (3) crop yields and microbial community structure will be similar in the hairy vetch cover cropping and the organic amended plasticulture systems. Treatments consisted of ammonium nitrate (control), hairy vetch cover crop, hairy vetch cover crop and poultry manure compost (10 Mg/ha), three levels of poultry manure compost (5, 10, and 20 Mg/ha), and two levels of poultry manure (2.5 and 5 Mg/ha). Black polyethylene mulch was used in all treatments without hairy vetch. Fatty acid analysis was used to characterize the total soil microbial community structure, while two substrate utilization assays were used to investigate the community structure of culturable bacteria and fungi. Crop yield was not significantly increased by hairy vetch cover cropping when compared to black polyethylene mulch, although microbial community structure was significantly affected by cover cropping. Under black polyethylene mulch, crop yields were significantly increased by the highest levels of compost and manure when compared to inorganic fertilizer, but there was no detectable effect on soil microbial community structure. When cover cropping was compared to organic amended plasticulture systems, crop yields were similar one year but dissimilar the next. However, hairy vetch cover cropping and organic amendments under black plastic mulch produced significantly different soil microbial community structure.     

Effects of mulch location on banana weevil,soil and plant nutrients,soil water and biomass in banana fields

Major constraints to banana (Musa spp., genome group AAA) production, a dietary staple for over 70 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, are pest infestations, poor nutrition and inadequate water. Although mulch can improve soil water and nutrient status, many farmers believe it also promotes the proliferation of banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus), one of the most serious banana pests. In this study, we evaluated the effects of mulch location (mulch to base of banana pseudostem; mulch recessed 1 m from the pseudostem) on banana weevil, soil and plant nutrient status, soil water, and banana growth and development. After 3 years, the fully mulched plots had significantly more soil Ca and Mg than plots that did not receive mulch. Banana foliar K concentration was significantly higher in both mulch treatments (full and recessed) than in the control (no mulch) plots. The mulched plots had greater recharge after rainfall events and higher soil water contents during dry periods due to increased infiltration in the mulched plots. However, the mulched plots also exhibited significantly higher banana weevil densities and greater plant damage than the control plots. There was no difference in weevil damage with mulch location, although weevil density was higher in the fully mulched plots throughout most of the trial. Despite greater weevil damage, the treatments that were mulched yielded significantly heavier bunches. Hence the effects of the mulch on soil water infiltration and banana foliar nutrient status outweighed the detrimental effects of banana weevil damage.     

Soil erosion on Alfisols in Western Nigeria: II. Effects of mulch rates

The effects of four rates of straw mulching on runoff and soil loss were compared with those of no-tillage treatments under natural rainfall conditions using field runoff plots of 25 × 4 m established at 1, 5, 10 and 15% slopes on the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research site near Ibadan, Nigeria. The four rates of straw mulching were 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha. The mean annual runoff was 50, 10, 4 and 2% of the total annual rainfall for mulch rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, respectively. Runoff from unmulched treatments was not related to slope. Runoff loss from no-till treatments was only 2% of the rain received. The mean soil losses for the rainstorms greater than 25 mm were 143, 16, 2 and 0.4 kg/ha per mm of rain received for mulched rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, respectively. The soil loss declined exponentially with increasing mulch rate with exponents ranging from approximately ?0.3 to ?0.7. The soil losses from the no-till plots were equal to those from plots that received mulch at the rate of 6 t/ha. Soil erodibility was significantly influenced by time after clearing, with maximum K reached two to three years after forest removal. The nutrient loss in runoff and eroded soil was significant only for unmulched treatments. The maximum annual loss of NO₃-N in runoff was about 15 kg/ha. The maximum annual loss of total N in eroded soil from unmulched plots was about 180 kg/ha, that of P, 5 kg/ha, and that of K, about 14 kg/ha.     

Weed growth and crop yield responses to tillage and mulching under different crop rotation sequences in semi‐arid conditions

Conservation agriculture (CA) is thought to reduce weed pressure from the third year of adoption, when recommended practices are followed. Weed growth and crop yield were assessed during the third and fourth year of maize–cowpea–sorghum rotation, second and third year of maize–cowpea rotation and first and second year of maize monocropping on a clay loam soil at Matopos Research Station (annual rainfall, 573 mm) following recommended CA management practices. Each experiment had a split‐plot randomized complete block design with mouldboard plough (CONV), minimum tillage (MT) with ripper tine and planting basins as main‐plot factor and maize residue mulch rate (0, 2 and 4 t/ha) as a subplot factor, with threefold replication. All subplots were surface mulched and weeded by hoe at the same time. We hypothesized that under MT weed growth would be considerable with maize monocropping but from year 3 of CA, weed growth would decrease and crop yield increase relative to values from unmulched CONV. Minimum tillage increased weed growth in 2nd year of maize monocropping. Under the maize–cowpea rotation, the considerable weed growth in planting basins was likely due to the large intrarow spacing and poor light competiveness of the cowpea variety. Mulch contributed to weed growth being suppressed by up to 36% under CA in the maize–cowpea–sorghum rotation relative to unmulched CONV. When planted on the same date, crop yield did not differ between CA and unmulched CONV. Maize–cowpea–sorghum rotation grain yield (3143 kg/ha) was double that under monocropping , probably due to improvements in soil physical and chemical conditions.     

Bioavailability of zinc and lead from a contaminated soil amended with pine bark-goat manure compost

The distribution in soil and plant uptake of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) as influenced by pine bark-goat manure (PBG) compost additions were investigated from the soils artificially contaminated with Zn or Pb ions using maize (Zea mays L.) as a test crop. Soils were amended with four rates of pine bark-goat manure compost (0, 50, 100, and 200 tons ha^?1) and four rates (0, 300, 600 and 1200 mg kg^?1) of Zn or Pb. Maize was planted and grown for 42 days. At harvest, plants samples were analyzed for Zn and Pb concentration. Soils samples were analyzed for pH, extractable and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Zn and Pb. Extractable Zn and Pb was lower in PBG compost amended soils than in unamended soils and steadily declined with increasing amount of compost applied. The extractable fraction for Zn dropped by 62.2, 65.0 and 44.6% for 300, 600 and 1200 mg Zn kg^?1, respectively when 200 t ha^?1 of PBG compost was applied. Metal uptake by maize plants were directly related to the rate of applied heavy metal ions with greater concentrations of metals ions found where metal ions were added to non-amended soils.     

Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) Seeding Rate Additions to Forage Oat-Legume Mixtures in Newfoundland

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis‐idaea L.) cvs “Sussi”; and “Sanna”; were cultivated on mineral soil with four different soil surface treatments (Sphagnum peat mulch, sand mulch, plastic mulch and herbicide 3‐syclohexyl‐5, 6‐trimethylenurasil (lenasil)). Amount of annual weeds, plant coverage and yield were observed over five years. Weeds were most abundant in the first two observation years. Sand mulch was the least efficient for the control of annual weeds for both cultivars, whereas lenasil was the most efficient for “Sussi”;, and peat mulch for “Sanna”;. The plant coverage increased steadily throughout the years in the “Sussi”; plots, especially in plots mulched with peat. The spreading of “Sanna”; was slower in all treatments. It was best in plots mulched with peat or sand. Overall, “Sanna”; was more productive, with the highest yield on sand mulch and the lowest on lenasil‐treated plots. “Sussi”;, instead, yielded best on lenasil plots and poorest on sand.     

Immature Compost Suppresses Weed Growth Under Greenhouse Conditions

The influence of immature municipal solid waste-biosolids composts on emergence and mean days to emergence (MDE) of several weed species was evaluated in a pot trial under greenhouse conditions. The experiment consisted of placing a 7.5 cm deep layer of three-day-old immature compost, a mature and stable compost, an artificial medium or control sand as a mulch on ivyleaf morning glory seeds. Immature three-day-old compost decreased percentage emergence, shoot and root dry weight, and increased MDE of ivyleaf morning glory. In an experiment with eight-week-old immature compost utilizing mulching depths of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 cm and the untreated control on seeds of three weed species, common purslane did not emerge under any of the immature compost treatments. The MDE of ivyleaf morning glory and barnyard grass increased linearly as immature compost depths increased. Next, eight economically important weed species were sown in pots with either mature or immature (eight-week-old) compost utilizing mulching depths of 2.5 and 10 cm, in addition to an untreated control. Control pots yielded higher percentages of emergence than compost treatments for all species evaluated. Common purslane, large crabgrass, pig-weed, Florida beggarweed, and dichondra did not emerge through a 10-cm deep layer of mature compost mulch, or 2.5 or 10 cm deep layer of immature mulch. Significant compost maturity/depth interactions were observed for percent emergence on common purslane, ground cherry, large crabgrass, Florida beggarweed, and ivyleaf morning glory. A thinner layer was required to suppress germination using immature eight-week-old compost as compared to mature and stable compost. Immature (three-day or eight-week-old) compost containing acetic acid concentrations of 2474 and 1776 mg.kg^?1 respectively reduced percentage emergence of several economically important weed species. These studies suggest that immature composts can be used to control weeds under conditions where spatial separation is maintained between the crop and the compost and phytotoxic fermentation products do not affect the health of the mulched plants and where odors associated with such partially stabilized products do not pose problems.     

Zum Einfluß von obstbaulichen Bodenpflegemaßnahmen auf Lumbriciden,insbesondere Lumbricus terrestris L .

Influence of orchard soil management on lumbricids, especially Lumbricus terrestris L. In a long-term soil management experiment (apple orchard treated with cultivation methods such as grass mulch, grass harvest, straw mulch, clean cultivation) 6 plots were selected in order to study the abundance and biomass of earthworm populations. The following results were obtained: In all treatments with the exception of straw mulch L. terrestris represented the majority (60.5% on average) of the lumbricid population. Their share in the biomass amounted to 93.3%. The earthworm biomass was the highest in grass mulch; a close correlation was observed between the litter production (grass and leaves) and the biomass of L. terrestris. Added farm yard-manure on plots with grass mulch had no additional positive effect on earthworms. Although a higher earthworm biomass was found under grass mulch in comparison with straw mulch, the species diversity was higher in the latter. Clean cultivation had a highly detrimental effect on all earthworms, especially on the horizontally burrowing species. The annual nitrogen turnover by L. terrestris in mulched orchards was estimated to approx. 50 kg N/ha.     

Effect of organic mulches on soil bacterial communities one year after application

The application of organic mulches as a soil cover is effective in improving the quality of soil. However, very little information is available on the effect of mulches on the soil microbial community. In this study, we investigated the effect of various organic mulches on soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and microbial community structures in the top 1 cm and 5 cm below the soil surface 1 year after application of the mulches. DHA was stimulated at both depths in plots mulched with grass clippings (GC), but was not significantly different from the control for the other mulch treatments. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rDNA fragments were used to assess changes in the soil microbial community structure. Cluster analysis and principle component analysis of FAME profiles showed that only soil mulched with pine chips distinctively clustered from the other treatments. At the soil surface, bacterial DGGE profiles revealed that distinct shifts in several bacterial populations occurred in soils mulched with GC and eucalyptus yardwaste (EY), while DGGE profiles from soil at the 5 cm depth revealed no distinct changes. Changes in bacterial diversity at the soil surface under different mulches were calculated based on the number of bands in the DGGE profile using the Shannon-Weaver index of diversity ( H). Compared to the control ( H =0.9), the GC- and EY-treated soils showed slightly increased bacterial diversity, with an H of 1.1 and 1.0, respectively. These results indicate that the long-term effect of organic mulches on the soil microbial activity and community structure is highly dependent upon the type of mulch and is mostly exerted in the top few centimeters of the soil profile.     

Evaluation of Field-Applied Fresh Composts for Production of Sod Crops

Application of compost to cropland potentially can use large quantities of compost and serve as an alternative to waste disposal into landfills. This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of field-applied composts of mixed municipal solid wastes, biosolids, leaves, and agricultural wastes for production of wildflower and grass sods. The composts were applied one inch thick on the soil surface. In half the plots, the composts were left on the surface as a mulch and in the other half, composts were worked into the top two inches of soil. The effects of the composts on wildflower, grass, and weed germination and growth and on wildflower diversity and flowering were investigated for two growing seasons. Wildflower and grass quality did not differ whether the composts were applied as a mulch or incorporated into the soil. In the first year, limited growth in apparently immature biosolids-woodchips and mixed MSW composts was attributed to high concentrations of ammonium or soluble salts. The detrimental effects of biosolids-woodchips compost which had high initial ammonium-N concentrations remained into the second season. In the first season, N from composts or fertilizers stimulated weed growth and resulted in poor crop quality. In the second season, crops had a competitive edge over the weeds, and N from the compost improved crop quality. Wildflower diversity and total amount of bloom improved as the N status of the media increased. Weed control and mature compost with readily available N and low soluble salt concentrations are required for high crop quality in the first season.