Compost derived from olive mill cake: Effects on isohumic soil quality based on humic acids characterization

Abstract

The compost effects on soil organic matter (SOM) stability were evaluated. Manure at 10 % ratio and compost at 10 %, 20 % and 40 % ratios (v/v) were added to the soil and their effects were compared to unamended control soil after 90-days of greenhouse-experiment. Humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) were extracted from two different soil-sample layers at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depth. The CHA/CFA ratio and the humification parameters were determined, and the soil-HA were characterized by spectroscopic methods (E4/E6 and FTIR). The humification parameters progress with time were affected by the amendment concentration. After 90 days, the treated soils HA’ FTIR spectra showed an increase in aromatic carbon polycondensation and O-containing groups reflecting the high degrees of molecular associations and humification of soil HA. Compared to 10 % manure application and 40 % compost ratio use, the applications of 10 % and 20 % compost ratios induced higher humification level and highly oxidized HA structure. Moreover, changes in the HA compositional and functional groups were noticed at the upper layer which exhibited higher reactivity compared to the lower layer which displayed more humified SOM. Through the humification process, the HA fraction was improved to reach more stable and complex macromolecules, where aromatic structures were bio-converted into highly functionalized compounds.