Effects of Municipal Waste Compost and Vermicompost on Growth and Nutrients Uptake of Corn

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Vermicompost as soil amendment  is known for its large surface area and high nutrients holding capacity. A greenhouse trial was conducted to compare the municipal solid waste vermicompost and compost as potting media for the growth of corns. The mixing proportion of compost and vermicompost with soil were 0%, 1%, 3% and 5% of pot weights. Six corn seeds were planted in each pot and moisture contents of the pots were controlled close to filed capacity (FC). Plants were harvested at 60th day after planting. The results showed that all potted mixtures produced significantly higher biomass than the control (only soil). There was a positive significant relationship between the amount of compost and vermicompost added to the soil and the uptake of nutrients by corn. The optimum mixing proportion for vermicompost was 3% and for  compost was 5% of pot weight. The results showed that the adding of 5% compost and 3% vermicompost to the soil, respectively, led to 178.82% and 178.42% increase in shoot dry weight and 49. 54% and 51.63% in root dry weight as compared to the control, respectively. 

Keywords

Main Subjects


Arancon NQ, Edwards CA, Atiyeh R and Metzger JD, 2004. Effects of vermicompost produced from food wastes on the growth and yield of greenhouse peppers. Bioresource Technology 93:139-144.
 
Atiyeh RM, Subler S, Edwards CA and Metzger j, 1999. Growth of tomato plants in horticultural potting media amended with vermicompost. Pedobiologia 43: 1-5.
 
 Atiyeh RM, Domingues j, Subler S and Edwards CA, 2000. Influence of earthworm- processes pig manure on the growth and yield of greenhouse tomatoes. Bioresource Technology 75: 175-180.
 
Atiyeh RM, Lee S, Edwards CA, Arancon NQ and Metzger JD, 2002. The influence of humic acids derived from earthworms processed organic wastes on plant growth. Bioresource Technology 84: 7-14.
 
Edwards CA and Burrows I, 1998. The potential of earthworm composts as plant growth media. In: Edwards CA, Neuhauser E (Eds), Earthworms in Wastes and Environmental Management. SPB Academic Press, The Hague, Netherland, pp.21-32.
 
Gallardo- Lora F and Nogales R, 1987. Effects of application of town refuse compost on the soil- plant system: A review. Boil. Wastes 10: 35-62.
 
Hashemimajd K, Kalbasi M, Golchin A and Shaiatmadari H, 2004. Comparison of vermicompost and composts as potting media for growth of tomatoes. Plant Nutrition 27(6): 1107- 1123.
 
Hu Y and Barker A, 2004. Effects of compost and their combinations with other materials on nutrient accumulation in tomato leaves. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 35: 2809-2823.
 
Mynard AA, 1993. Evaluating the sustainability of MSW compost as a soil amendment in field- growth tomatoes. Compost Sci Util 1: 34-36.
 
Mynard AA, 1995. Cumulative effect of annual addition of MSW compost on the yield of field- grown tomatoes. Compost Sci Util 3: 47-54.
 
Orozco FH, Cegarra J, Trujillo LM and Roig A, 1996. Vermicomposting of coffee pulp using the earthworm Eisenia fetida: Effects on C and N contents and the availability of nutrients. Biology and Fertility of Soils 22: 162-166.
 
Shi- wei Z and Fu- zhen H, 1991. The nitrogen uptake efficiency from 15 N labled chemical fertilizer in the presence of earthworm manure (cast). In: Veeresh GK, Rajagopal D, Virkatamath CA (Eds), Advances in Management and Conservation of Soil Fauna. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co, New Dehli, Bombay. Pp. 539-542.
 
Subler S, Edwards CA and Metzger J, 1998. Comparing vermicomposts and composts. Biocycle 39: 63-66.