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A Novel Technology for Processing Urban Waste Compost as a Fast-Releasing Nitrogen Source to Improve Soil Properties and Broccoli and Lettuce Production

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Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated nitrogen (N) mineralization dynamics in three soils after the addition of heat-treated urban waste amendments or urban waste compost (UWC). The effects of UWC and urea on soil properties and broccoli and lettuce production were compared.

Methods

The first N mineralization experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement (4 × 3), as a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replicates. Four UWC doses: 12.5, 25.0, 37.5, and 50.0 mg dm−3 were applied to three soils: sandy Ustoxic Quartzipsamment (QS), intermediate-texture red Ultisol (US), and clayey red Oxisol (OS), during eight incubation periods (0, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 days). In the second experiment, the effects of UWC and urea fertilizer on soil properties were compared. The growth of broccoli and lettuce plants was evaluated (experiments 3 and 4). The treatments (Experiments 2–4) followed a factorial arrangement (4 × 2; RCBD; three replicates), using OS soil. Four N doses (as for experiment 1) were combined with two N sources (UWC and urea).

Results

The processed UWC application proportionally increased the N mineralization rate by 72% in QS, 54% in US, and 66% in OS. Furthermore, UWC application enhanced soil properties (pH and nutrient availability), compared with urea fertilizer, and improved N uptake, resulting in higher fresh biomass production in broccoli and lettuce plants (50.0 and 37.5 mg dm−3, respectively).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that heat-treated UWC is an economical, viable, and efficient fertilizer to improve soil properties and short-cycle vegetable crop productivity.

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Data Availability

The following information was supplied regarding data availability: Dates of Physicochemical characteristics of the studied soils and heat-treated urban waste compost, and the parameter values for calculation of the N mineralization rate are provided in the Supplemental Files.

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Funding

The project was financially supported by the Centro Universitario da Fundação Educacional de Barretos - UNIFEB – Brasil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agrarian Sciences, University Center of the Educational Foundation of Barretos, Av. Prof. Roberto Frade Monte 389, Barretos, SP, 14783-226, Brazil

    Fabio Olivieri de Nobile, Maria Gabriela Anunciação & Leticia Ane Sizuki Nociti Dezem

  2. Department of Agricultural Sciences – Soil and Fertilizer Sector, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences (FCAV), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil

    Alexander Calero Hurtado, Renato de Mello Prado, Luiz Fabiano Palaretti & Luiz Fabiano Palaretti

  3. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation – Embrapa Mid North, Av. Duque de Caxias 5650, Teresina, Piauí, 64006-245, Brazil

    Henrique Antunes de Souza

  4. Department of Rural Engineering, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil

    Fabio Olivieri de Nobile, Alexander Calero Hurtado, Renato de Mello Prado, Henrique Antunes de Souza, Maria Gabriela Anunciação & Leticia Ane Sizuki Nociti Dezem

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  1. Fabio Olivieri de Nobile
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  2. Alexander Calero Hurtado
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  3. Renato de Mello Prado
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Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: FON, RMP, HAS, and MGA. Performed the lab experiment: FON, HAS, and MGA. Performed the greenhouse experiments: FON, MGA, ACH, LFP and LASND. Analyzed the data: FON, RMP, HAS, and ACH. All authors discussed the conceptual model and contributed to data interpretation and the writing of the paper.

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Correspondence to Alexander Calero Hurtado.

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de Nobile, F.O., Calero Hurtado, A., Prado, R.d. et al. A Novel Technology for Processing Urban Waste Compost as a Fast-Releasing Nitrogen Source to Improve Soil Properties and Broccoli and Lettuce Production. Waste Biomass Valor 12, 6191–6203 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01415-z

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