High-nitrogen compost as a medium for organic container-grown crops

M. Raviv¹, Y. Oka², J. Katan³, Y. Hadar³, A. Yogev¹, S. Medina1, A. Krasnovsky¹ and H. Ziadna¹

Abstract
Compost was tested as a medium for organic container-grown crops.

Nitrogen (N) loss during composting of separated cow manure (SCM) was minimized using high C/N (wheat straw, WS; grape marc, GM) or a slightly acidic (orange peels, OP) additives. N conservation values in the resultant composts were 82%, 95% and 98% for GM-SCM, OP-SCM and WS-SCM, respectively.

Physical characteristics of the composts were compatible with use as growing media. The nutritional contribution of the composts was assessed using cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculantum Mill.) and by means of incubation experiments. Media were either unfertilized or fertilized with guano (sea-bird manure). Plant responses suggest that N availability is the main variable affecting growth. Unfertilized OP-SCM and WS-SCM supplied the N needed for at least 4 months of plant growth.

Root-galling index (GI) of tomato roots and number of eggs of the nematode Meloidogyne javanica were reduced by the composts, with the highest reduction obtained by OP-SCM and WS-SCM, at 50% concentrations. These composts, but not peat, reduced the incidence of crown and root-rot disease in tomato as well as the population size of the causal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici.


Source
Bioresource Technology (2005) 96: 419-427


Author Locations and Affiliations
(1) Department of Environmental Horticulture, Agriculture Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
(2) Division of Nematology, Agriculture Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, M.P. Negev 85280, Israel
(3) Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel


Posted April 2010