Compost Based on Pulp and Paper Mill Sludge, Fruit-Vegetable Waste, Mushroom Spent Substrate and Rye Straw Improves Yield and Nutritional Value of Tomato

Agnieszka Zawadzińska,Jacek S. Nowak,Waldemar Kowalczyk,Rafał Piechocki,Piotr Salachna,Łukasz Łopusiewicz,Anna Pietrak

doi:10.3390/agronomy12010013

Agnieszka Zawadzińska, Jacek S. Nowak + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010013

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Abstract

Plant biomass in the form of waste materials and by-products from various industries can be a valuable material for the production of composts and growing media for urban gardening. In this study, pulp and paper mill sludge, fruit-vegetable waste, mushroom spent substrate and rye straw were used to produce compost that was further used as a medium component in container cultivation of tomato. The plants were grown in containers with a capacity of 3 dm3 filled with three types of compost-based growing media supplemented with high peat, fen peat, pine bark and wood fiber. The tomato plants grown in 100% peat substrate served as controls. The plants grown in the compost-enriched media had a higher leaf greening index and percentage of ripe fruit, and exhibited an increased content of total polyphenols and flavonoids, potassium, calcium, magnesium and copper in fruit as compared with the control. The tomatoes grown in a medium consisting of 25% compost, 30% high peat, 15% low peat, 20% pine bark and 10% wood fiber reached the highest fresh fruit weight, total polyphenol content and L-ascorbic acid levels. This study demonstrated that the compost produced from natural materials from various sources was a valuable potting medium supplement with positive effects on tomato yield and nutritional value.

Highlights

The idea of urban gardening involving the individual cultivation of vegetables and other crops has gained huge popularity [1]
More extensive research is needed to assess the suitability of various biomaterials for the preparation of composts and natural potting media that are the basis for sustainable crop production [5]
Our study investigated the use of several waste materials, such as pulp and paper mill sludge, fruit-vegetable waste, mushroom spent substrate and rye straw to produce a compost with high fertilizing value

Summary

Introduction

The idea of urban gardening involving the individual cultivation of vegetables and other crops has gained huge popularity [1]. Green roofs and walls, and vertical gardens, as well as the production of plants in various types of containers, are becoming more and more popular in urbanized areas [2]. The intensive development of urban gardening may be an impulse for a more comprehensive use of composts and compost-based substrates derived from waste biomass [3,4]. More extensive research is needed to assess the suitability of various biomaterials for the preparation of composts and natural potting media that are the basis for sustainable crop production [5]. The most often used substrates include composted green waste, composted or aged bark and composted wood waste [12]

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