Soil-plant nitrogen pools in nectarine orchard in response to long-term compost application

Abstract

The search for sustainable source of N, the need of soil organic matter restoration, along with the call for recycling of organic wastes has led to a rise of the use of organic fertilizers. The aim of the present experiment was to evaluate: the effectiveness of compost application as a N fertilizer, the impact on N distribution in soil and plant and on tree performances, in a long-term experiment (14 years).The study was carried out in the Po valley, Italy and, since orchard planting (2001), the following treatments were applied: 1. unfertilized control; 2. mineral fertilization; 3. compost at a rate of 5 t DW ha−1 yr−1; 4. compost at a rate of 10 t DW ha−1 yr−1. Soil total N, potentially mineralizable, microbial and extractable N were higher in compost in comparison to mineral (fertilizer). The effect was found both in the row and in the inter-row and the rise of N fractions was evident in the shallowest soil layer of the row. Soil mineral, potentially mineralizable N was increased by mineral (11.1 mg kg−1) and compost 10 (12.4 mg kg−1) fertilization compared with control (6.7 mg kg−1). Vegetative growth and yield were increased in trees treated with mineral and compost 10; moreover, these plants were able to recycle (66.1 and 70.5 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively) and remobilize (41.5 and 48.7 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively) a higher amount of N than those of control and compost 5. In conclusion, organic fertilization strategy promoted the buildup of soil N reserve, meaning a capacity of the ecosystem to sequestrate N. The application of compost 10 showed a similar effect on plant growth and production as mineral fertilization, but introduced the advantage of the use of a cheap, renewable waste material, providing a new insight on N fertilization management.