TY - JOUR
T1 - Impacts on vegetable yields, nutrient contents and soil fertility in a community garden with different compost amendments
AU - Mu, Dongyan
AU - Hawks, John
AU - Diaz, Andrew
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - This study aimed to test impacts on soil fertility, plant yield, and plant nutrient content when growing vegetables (Arugula and Radish) at different compost treatments rates (10%, 30%, 50% and 70% v/v) and with synthetic fertilizer. The compost used in this study was produced from food wastes in combination of wood chips. The results showed the impacts on vegetable growth and soil fertility varied exceptionally by the compost amendment rate. Specifically, the leafy crop experienced an increased yield with the incremented compost ratio and therefore the highest treatment (70%) generated a harvest several times larger to that of non-treated soil. For the root vegetable, the largest output was observed at a medium treatment rate (50%). Additionally, the applications revealed compost treatments at high percentages generally promoted elements N, P, K, Na, Mn, Zn and Mg within the vegetable contents. On the contrary, a low compost amount (10%) boosted Ca, Al, and Fe levels. In terms of soil fertility enrichment, the compost can improve C, N, K and Zn at medium to high treatment rates (30% to 70%). Particularly, at such amounts, the compost enhanced C and N contents within the ground soil more than the fertilizer application. Based on the gathered outcomes, root vegetables will thrive at 50% compost treatment allowing for the replacement of complete synthetic fertilizer use without significant reduction on yields and nutrients. As for leafy green vegetables, the 70 % compost concentration permits the replacement of more than half the total fertilizer usage.
AB - This study aimed to test impacts on soil fertility, plant yield, and plant nutrient content when growing vegetables (Arugula and Radish) at different compost treatments rates (10%, 30%, 50% and 70% v/v) and with synthetic fertilizer. The compost used in this study was produced from food wastes in combination of wood chips. The results showed the impacts on vegetable growth and soil fertility varied exceptionally by the compost amendment rate. Specifically, the leafy crop experienced an increased yield with the incremented compost ratio and therefore the highest treatment (70%) generated a harvest several times larger to that of non-treated soil. For the root vegetable, the largest output was observed at a medium treatment rate (50%). Additionally, the applications revealed compost treatments at high percentages generally promoted elements N, P, K, Na, Mn, Zn and Mg within the vegetable contents. On the contrary, a low compost amount (10%) boosted Ca, Al, and Fe levels. In terms of soil fertility enrichment, the compost can improve C, N, K and Zn at medium to high treatment rates (30% to 70%). Particularly, at such amounts, the compost enhanced C and N contents within the ground soil more than the fertilizer application. Based on the gathered outcomes, root vegetables will thrive at 50% compost treatment allowing for the replacement of complete synthetic fertilizer use without significant reduction on yields and nutrients. As for leafy green vegetables, the 70 % compost concentration permits the replacement of more than half the total fertilizer usage.
KW - Food waste compost
KW - Soil fertility
KW - Sustainability
KW - Vegetable growing
KW - Vegetable nutrients
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097414513&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3934/environsci.2020023
DO - 10.3934/environsci.2020023
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85097414513
SN - 2372-0352
VL - 7
SP - 350
EP - 365
JO - AIMS Environmental Science
JF - AIMS Environmental Science
IS - 4
ER -