Abstract
PurposeA field trial was conducted on a silty-loam soil under potato culture in NW Spain, to assess the effect of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost in a heavily fertilized acid soil.MethodsThree doses of compost (0, 30 and 60 Mg compost ha−1 soil) or inorganic fertilization (~ 140 N: 120 P2O5: 240 K2O kg ha−1 soil) were assayed. The effects of compost on soil physical, chemical (nutrient status and potentially toxic trace elements) and biochemical properties were evaluated after 1 and 5 months.ResultsCompost addition at the highest dose decreased bulk density and increased soil porosity and soil stability against water erosion. Soil pH, total organic C and N, cation exchange capacity and available P, Ca, Mg and K were also higher in compost-amended soils, whereas no effect on NH4+-N and NO3−-N was observed. Compost significantly increased soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity. Due to the high nutrient status in the control soil, potato yield was not increased by compost or inorganic fertilization. A negative consequence of compost addition was the increased extractability of trace metals such as Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni, although their total concentrations in soil or in potato tubers did not increase with respect to the control.ConclusionsOverall, results show that positive effects of MSW compost can be expected even in rich soils that do not need fertilization for maintaining their productive function in the short-term. These positive effects prove the benefits of recycling urban wastes in agricultural soils as a sustainable way of waste management.
Highlights
Agricultural activities may result in a decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC) in cultivated soils in comparison with their non-cultivated counterparts when losses are not sufficiently compensated by inputs
This fact is likely due to the liming effect of compost, since metal uptake is generally lower as soil pH increases (Smith 2009). These results show that, at least in the short-term, the risk associated to the use of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost as organic amendment in these fertile agricultural soils is low
The addition of a MSW compost to a fertile, organic matterrich soil at doses of 30 or 60 Mg ha−1 produced a series of modifications in the soil physical, chemical and biological properties in comparison with soils receiving inorganic fertilization and with untreated control soils, it did not influence potato yield
Summary
Agricultural activities may result in a decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC) in cultivated soils in comparison with their non-cultivated counterparts when losses are not sufficiently compensated by inputs. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture (2019) 8:171–178 excess nutrient leaching or accumulation of potentially toxic elements, must be taken into account This is the case of composts produced from urban wastes such as MSW that may be the cause of negative effects when added to soil due to the presence of high concentrations of potentially toxic trace elements (Smith 2009; Lopes et al 2011; Paradelo et al 2011). If MSW composts are to be used in fertile soils with soil functions other than plant production in mind, environmental issues gain relevance In this sense, the general objective of this work was to know what happens in very fertile and organic matter-rich soils: whether, in this case, the potential advantages of composts beyond plant yield have more weight than the associated risks. Chemical and biochemical properties have been assessed, as well as crop yield and potential transfer of heavy metals to the edible parts of potatoes
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