Abstract
Municipal solid waste (MSW) compost is readily available in eastern Canada and may be a good source of fertility. A 3-year experiment evaluated the effects of MSW compost and fertilizer on soil fertility, elemental composition and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown in a sandy loam soil. Three rates of compost (MSW1, MSW2, and MSW3), one rate of fertilizer (NPK), and one mixture of 1/2 MSW1 compost and 1/2 NPK fertilizer were applied annually to plots in a three-crop rotation; each year the MSW1 rate attempted to match the rate of P applied in the NPK treatment. Mehlich-3 extracts were evaluated for 11 elements at two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm). Potato shoots and roots or whole plants were assessed for 16 elements. Treatments had no consistent significant influence on marketable tuber yields although the NPK treatment produced mathematically the highest yields. After 3 years, treatments had influenced soil concentrations of K, Ca, S, Cu, Zn, and Na in Mehlich-3 extracts at the 0–15 cm depth, but only the concentration of Na at the 15–30 cm depth. The concentration of Mg in the plant tissue was consistently highest in plants fertilized with NPK; this treatment also produced higher Mn concentrations in the last 2 years. Shoot Cu concentrations were highest in the MSW3 plots. The compost did not increase heavy metal concentrations in shoot, root or whole-plant tissue and would be safe to use at agronomic rates of application.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abad M, Climent MD, Aragon P, Camarero A (1997) The influence of solid urban waste compost and nitrogen-mineral fertilizer on growth and productivity in potatoes. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 28(17&18):1653–1661
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2007) Canadian Potato Situation and Trends 2006–2007. Available (Online) at: http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1192551138431. Accessed 6 Jan 2010
Alvarez CE, Amin M, Hernandez E (2006) Effect of compost, farmyard manure and/or chemical fertilizers on potato yield and tuber nutrient content. Biol Agric Hortic 23(3):273–286
Bartl B, Hartl W, Horak O (2002) Long-term application of biowaste compost versus mineral fertilization: effects on the nutrient and heavy metal contents of soil and plants. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 165:161–165
Hargreaves JC, Adl MS, Warman PR (2008) A review of the use of composted municipal solid waste in agriculture. Agric Ecosyst Environ 123(1–3):1–14
Karam NS, Ereifej KI, Shibli RA, AbuKudais H, Alkofahi A, Malkawi Y (1998) Metal concentrations, growth, and yield of potato produced from in vitro plantlets or microtubers and grown in municipal solid waste substrates. J Plant Nutr 21(4):725–773
Liu K (2006) Soil and plant responses in the first cycle of four-year organic potato rotations. Ph.D. Dissertation, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Lynch DH, ZhiMing Z, Zebarth BJ, Martin RC (2008) Organic amendment effects on tuber yield, plant N uptake and soil mineral N under organic potato production. Ren Agr Food Syst 23(3):250–259
Mkhabela MS, Warman PR (2005) The influence of municipal solid waste compost on yield, soil phosphorus availability and uptake by two vegetable crops grown in a Pugwash sandy loam soil in Nova Scotia. Agric Ecosyst Environ 106:57–67
Roinila P, Vaisanen J, Granstedt A, Kunttu S (2003) Effects of different organic fertilization practices and mineral fertilization on potato quality. Biol Agric Hortic 21(2):165–194
Sebastiao MJ, Queda ACC, Campos L (2000) Effect of mixed municipal solid waste compost on potato production and heavy metal contamination in different types of soils. In: Warman PR, Taylor BR (eds) Proc of the Int Composting Symp, Halifax, NS, Canada, 19–23 Sept 1999. CBA Press, Truro, NS, Canada. pp. 759–772
Warman PR, Fairchild G (1983) The effects of Endosulfan and fertilizer source on soil fertility. 1. Potato, cabbage and strawberry tissue composition. Plant Soil 74:189–202
Warman PR, Havard KA (1998) Yield, vitamin and mineral contents of organically and conventionally grown potatoes and sweet corn. Agric Ecosyst Environ 68:207–216
Warman PR, Rodd AV, Hicklenton P (2009) The effect of MSW compost and fertilizer on extractable soil elements and the growth of winter squash in Nova Scotia. Agric Ecosyst Environ 133:98–102
Webb KT, Thompson RL, Beke GJ, Nowland JL (1991) Soils of Colchester County Nova Scotia. Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Report No. 19
Willekens K, De Vliegher A, Vandecasteele B, Carlier L (2008) Effect of compost versus animal manure fertilization on crop development yield and nitrogen residue in the organic cultivation of potatoes. In: Neuhoff D, Halberg N, Alföldi T, Lockeretz W, Thommen A, Rasmussen IA, Hermansen J, Vaarst M, Lueck L, Caporali F, Jensen HH, Migliorini P, Willer H (eds) Proc 2nd Scientific Conf Intern Soc Org Agric Res (ISOFAR [Pub]), Modena, Italy, 18–20 June. pp. 576–579
Zheljazkov VD, Warman PR (2002) Comparison of three digestion methods for the recovery of 17 plant essential nutrients and trace elements from six composts. Compost Sci Util 10(3):197–203
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Municipality of Lunenburg, Miller Waste Ltd and the Matching Investment Initiative Program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. We also thank Ryan Ring, Irene Walsh, Sharon Sorenson and Andy Radin for their excellent technical support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Warman, P.R., Vernon Rodd, A. & Hicklenton, P. The Effect of MSW Compost and Fertilizer on Extractable Soil Elements, Tuber Yield, and Elemental Concentrations in the Plant Tissue of Potato. Potato Res. 54, 1–11 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-010-9167-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-010-9167-9