Abstract
Source of compostable materials and length of composting or aging affect quality of composts and their suitability as media for crop growth. In this experiment, year-old and fresh composts of mixed municipal solid wastes (MSW), agricultural wastes (chicken manure and cranberry pomace), and autumn leaves were evaluated for their capacities to support production of turfgrass and mixed wildflower sods. Composts were laid in 5-cm-thick layers on plastic in outdoor plots. Germination, stand establishment, biomass production, and flowering responses of grass or wildflowers were assessed for each medium. Seed germination and stand establishment were sensitive to factors present in fresh, apparently immature composts of mixed MSW or autumn leaves. Subsequent plant growth was reduced in these compost largely due to poor establishment of stands. The limiting factors were identified as excessive ammonium in the fresh MSW compost and inadequate total N in the leaf compost. Aging of the composts increased their value ...
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