Are compost teas an effective nutrient amendment in the cultivation of strawberries? Soil and plant tissue effects

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUND: Compost teas are purported to serve as an effective source of nutrients; however, there is little scientific evidence to support or refute this claim. Compost tea infusions made with municipal solid waste compost and ruminant compost were used as amendments for strawberry cultivation and their efficacy was compared to municipal solid waste (MSW) compost, ruminant compost, and fertilizer amendments. A variety of parameters were examined including the nutrient, micronutrient and metal concentrations of soil and leaf tissue, pH, total soil carbon and nitrogen, and mineralized nitrogen.RESULTS: Compost tea treatments provided similar amounts of most macro‐ and micronutrients compared to MSW compost, ruminant compost, and fertilizer treatments and subsequently to strawberry plants. The MSW compost added significantly greater amounts of Ca, Na, and S to soil with increased plant uptake while the ruminant compost treatment plots had significantly greater available soil P. The compost and fertilizer treatments also provided greater amounts of K to soil compared to the compost tea treatments.CONCLUSIONS: In a 2 year study, non‐aerated compost teas were effective nutrient amendments for strawberries compared to ruminant and MSW compost, and inorganic fertilizers. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry