CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES
IN MUNICIPAL WASTE
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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This report has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and approved for publication. Approval
does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect
the views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, nor does mention of commercial products constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government.
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CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES
IN MUNICIPAL WASTE
This final open-file report (SW-lSrg.of) on work performed under
solid waste management research grant no. EC-00243 to
Auburn University was prepared by C. E. SCARSBROOK,
RAY DICKENS, A. E. HILTBOLD, HENRY ORR,
KENNETH SANDERSON, and D. G. STURKIE
and is reproduced as received from the grantee.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
1971
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An environmental protection publication
in the solid waste management series (SW-13rg.of).
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This is a final report on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Grant 8 R01 EC 00243-03 "Conservation of Resources in Municipal
Waste."
Garbage composts utilized in the study were products of the Municipal
Compost Plant of the City of Mobile, Alabama.
The research on all parts of the report, except on ornamental horti-
cultural crops, was conducted by Ray Dickens, A. E. Hiltbold, C. E.
Scarsbrook, and D. G. Sturkie of the Department of Agronomy and Soils,
Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station. Research on ornamental
crops was conducted by Henry Orr and Kenneth Sanderson of the Horticulture
Department, Auburn University.
D. G. Sturkie was principal investigator of the project from
April 1, 1967 until his retirement on June 30, 1968. C. E. Scarsbrook
was principal investigator from July 1, 1968 to the conclusion of the
grant on March 31, 1970.
iii
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CONTENTS
Page
Chemical Properties of Garbage Compost 1
Nitrogen Transformations During Decomposition of
Garbage Compost in Soil 4
Germination of Oat, Millet, Soybean, and Vetch
Seeds in Garbage Compost 11
Response of Oats to Fertilizer and Compost in a
Growth Chamber 11
Fertility Experiments with Compost in a Greenhouse 14
Garbage Compost for Reclamation of Soils Containing
Toxic Amounts of Herbicides 22
Use of Compost in Establishment of Fine Turf grasses 51
Compost on Roadsides 56
Compost for Establishment of Vegetation on Beach Sand Fill 77
Effect of Compost on Available Soil Potassium and Phosphorus
and on Soil pH 79
Growth and Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemums Grown in
Garbage Compost Amended Media .92
Effect of Various Media Combinations of Peat and Original
Compost on the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv-
'Golden Yellow Princess Anne' 101
Influence of Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media on
the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay' 103
Comparison of Three Compost Products as Soil Amendments on
the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay' 107
Effect of Media Containing Original Compost on the Growth
of Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Sunstar' 109
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on
the Growth of Easter Lilies 113
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Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media and
Constant Fertilization with and Without a Single Application
of Iron Chelate on the Growth of Geraniums 115
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended
Media on the Growth of Gloxinia 117
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on
the Growth of Two Flowering Groups of Snapdragons 118
Growth and Foliar Analysis of Miniature Carnations
in Compost-Am ended Media 121
Effect of Various Additions and Recomposting on the
Chemical Analysis of Original Compost 127
Original Compost as a Mulch for Ornamentals 129
Mulching Perennials: Garden Chrysanthemums 131
Mulching Annuals: Petunias 132
Mulching Woody Ornamentals on the Highway 132
Original Compost as a Herbicide Mulch 136
Summary and Conclusions
vi
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CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES IN MUNICIPAL WASTE
This project had as a broad objective the determination of means of
conservation and utilization of the resources contained in garbage compost.
Utilization in soil and in greenhouse potting mixtures was the principal
means of recycling the resources in the compost. Compost, except as noted,
was obtained from the Municipal Compost Plant of the City of Mobile, Alabama.
The compost was produced from garbage after most of the metals, rags,
and large items of refuse were removed by hand or by mechanical means. The
remaining material was ground in a hammer mill and composted in windrows.
The composition varied with season, fineness of grinding or screening, and
duration of composting.
Two products of the Mobile plant were used. The first was a coarse
ground compost containing a large quantity of plastic. This product will be
referred to as original compost (oc) and is the material utilized unless
otherwise noted.
The second product of the Mobile plant was marketed under the trade
name Mobile Aid (MA). This compost is a more finely ground product than the
original compost. The visible plastic content of Mobile Aid is less than
the original compost; however, chemical properties were similar.
Chemical Properties of Garbage Compost
Original compost obtained in July 1966 was analyzed for some chemical
properties, Table 1. Analyses were made using air dried (7% t^O) and data
reported on an oven dry (105°) basis. Water extracts showed that the compost
contains appreciable cations in excess of the exchange capacity, presumably
as carbonate and bicarbonate salts since the chloride and sulfate analyses
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2
were negative. X-ray spectrographic analysis of the whole compost showed
the presence of lead, tin, copper, manganese, iron, and zinc. These elements
were not measured quantitatively.
Table 1. Chemical Properties of Oven Dried Original
Compost from the Municipal Compost Plant of
the City of Mobile, Alabama
Property Quantity
pH (1:1 water suspension) 8.4
Carbon-nitrogen ration (C/N) 38.5
Total carbon (dry combustion) per cent 34.2
Total phosphorus, per cent 0.21
Total nitrogen (Kjeldahl method) per cent 0.887
Exchange capacity (ammonium acetate method) 13.7 meq/100 g
Exchangeable bases (ammonium acetate extraction)
Calcium 42.2 meq/100 g
Magnesium 4.3 "
Potassium 6.0 "
Sodium 15.4 "
Bases extracted with water
Calcium 8.3 meq/100 g
Magnesium 1.1 "
Potassium 4.3 "
Sodium 15.7 "
Negative test for ammonium, nitrate, chloride and sulfate ions
The high carbon-nitrogen ratio of 38.5 indicated that the compost was
relatively immature. The compost properties could have been changed considerably
by a longer composting period in the windrow, however, this would have increased
the cost of composting. The low content of nitrogen combined with the im-
maturity of the compost indicated a demand for additional nitrogen when the
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compost was added to soil and underwent further decomposition. Phosphorus
also appeared to be a possible limiting element for plant growth whereas
calcium and potassium appeared to be in adequate supply for plant growth.
Considering the high pH and organic matter content of the compost, and
the pH dependency of the exchange capacity of organic matter, it was desired
to determine the buffer capacity, or resistance to change in pH when acid or
base is added. Nitric acid was selected because of its high ionization and
also because of its possible use in increasing the nitrogen content of the
compost.
Samples of 2 g (air dry) compost were placed in 50 ml beakers and
moistened with 1-12 ml of nitric acid (0.0964 N) . Distilled water was added
to the samples to bring the liquid volume to 12 ml. The suspensions were
stirred and allowed to stand with occasional stirring for 1 hour. The pH was
then determined, samples held overnight and pH determined again, and finally
after 8 days standing in suspension, Table 2.
Table 2. Buffer Capacity of Garbage Compost Determined
on 2 g Samples
Sample
1
2
3
4
5
6
Meq HN03 added
0
.0964
.1928
.3856
.7712
1.1568
pH (after 1 hr)
8.07
7.11
6.57
5.96
4.98
3.53
pH (after 1 day)
7.51
7.89
8.23
6.97
6.28
4.82
pH (after 8 days)
7.85
7.93
8.02
8.02
7.96
5.83
Increased pH upon standing 1 day, and especially at 8 days, was associated
with gas bubbles formed in the compost suspensions, particularly at the higher
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4
nitric acid applications. In the most acid sample, however, mold growth pre-
dominated the compost and little gassing was apparent. It is concluded that
vigorous denitrification occurred, which eliminated the nitric acid from the
treated samples, except in the most acid samples where bacterial denitrifica-
tion was inhibited by low pH.
The pH response to added nitric acid is shown in Fig. 1. The compost
exhibits considerable buffer capacity, particularly in the pH range 5-6. On
the basis of 68 meq of extractable bases and only 13.7 meq of exchange capacity
it seems that about 54 meq of bases must have been present as carbonate and
bicarbonate salts. The buffer curve, then, was essentially the titration of
calcium and sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, with relatively little influence
of the organic material. An alternative explanation might be that at pH 8.4
the exchange capacity of the compost was much greater than the 13.7 meq
measured at pH 7 with ammonium acetate. The extractable bases may be held
by weakly acidic exchange sites in the organic matter rather than as precip-
itated carbonate. The sharp drop in pH with the first increment of acid sup-
ports this latter explanation.
In summary, the compost is alkaline in reaction, containing considerable
calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium ions. In the absence of chloride,
nitrate and sulfate ions, it is likely that the basic ions are held at weakly
acidic exchange sites in the organic matter and as precipitated carbonates
and bicarbonates. The compost had its greatest buffer capacity at about pH
5.5. This high buffering capacity and high pH indicated that when large
quantities were added to acid soils, the soil pH may be increased considerably.
Nitrogen Transformations During Decomposition
of Garbage Compost in Soil
An incubation experiment was carried out to determine the effect of
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pH
8]
»
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
HMOs added, meq/100 g dry compost
Fig. 1. Buffer capacity of garbage compost
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1. .
Pet.
. . 13.6
. . . 6.4
5.4
6.1
Pet.
0.56
0.53
Pet.
0.069
0.039
8
14
6
garbage compost on immobilization and mineralization of nitrogen in soil.
Both indigenous nitrogen of the compost and added fertilizer nitrogen were
considered.
Two soils used were Decatur clay loam and Lakeland sand which had
properties as follows: (Carbon and nitrogen values are on oven dry basis).
H20 pH Carbon Nitrogen Carbon/nitrogen
Decatur c.l.
Lakeland s
Samples of 500 g each (moist weight) were placed in quart jars. Air
dry garbage compost (11% HoO) which had been screened to pass 1.25 cm mesh
was thoroughly mixed into the soil samples at 0, 5, and 25 g rates. On oven
dry basis, these additions provided 10,200 and 51,200 ppm in Decatur soil
and 9,600 and 48,000 ppm in Lakeland soil.
Ammonium sulfate was added to the samples in a 10 ml aliquot to supply
0 or 100 mg of nitrogen. After thorough mixing the samples were replaced
into the jars and moistened to about field capacity. The jars were left
open in the incubator at 30°C, with distilled water added occasionally to
maintain moist condition. At intervals of 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, and 18 weeks a
sample of 10 g was taken from each jar. The 10 g sample was suspended in 10
ml of water and the pH determined. Potassium sulfate (1 N) was added to the
suspension and then the sample was transferred to a Gooch filtering crucible.
The sample was leached under suction with additional potassium sulfate to a
final volume of 100 ml. The potassium sulfate extract was steam distilled
to obtain ammonium nitrogen and with Devarda's alloy added to obtain nitrate
nitrogen. Values for ammonium and nitrate nitrogen were corrected to ppm
nitrogen on the basis of oven dry weight of soil, Table 3.
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Table 3. Soil Acidity and Mineral Nitrogen Contents of 10 g Soil Samples During Incubation
Treatment
Compost
added
ppm
N added
ppm
After 1 week
PH
ppm
N ppm N
After 2 weeks
PH
NH4 NO 3
ppm N ppm N
After 3 weeks
NH+ NO"
pH ppm N ppm N
After 4 weeks
PH
NH+
ppm N
NO"
ppm N
Decatur clay loam
0
0
10,200
10,200
51,200
51,200
0
0
9,600
9,600
48,000
48,000
0
227
0
227
0
227
0
213
0
213
0
213
5.34
5.11
5.60
5.30
6.30
5.88
6.13
5.38
6.74
5.44
7.34
5.99
1
203
0
181
2
94
0
174
0
144
0
43
After 8
13
19
4
10
2
3
10
20
3
17
1
12
weeks
5.40
5.08
5.69
5.31
6.38
5.86
6.10
4.72
6.74
4.59
7.45
5.95
2 21
202 28
6 0
160 17
2 0
50 0
Lakeland sand
2 8
184 44
1 1
82 61
2 0
3 17
After 12 weeks
5.28
5.01
5.70
5.20
6.33
5.71
5.93
4.48
6.74
4.39
7.41
5.94
After
1
187
2
144
3
41
1
138
1
61
2
4
18 weeks
17
51
0
47
1
34
20
61
22
73
1
30
5.28
4.92
5.69
5.04
6.38
5.56
5.81
4.38
6.63
4.18
7.66
5.93
3
180
1
140
3
25
1
129
1
30
1
3
30
52
5
50
5
7
19
58
7
85
7
35
Decatur clay loam
0
0
10,200
10,200
51,200
51,200
0
0
9,600
9,600
48,000
48,000
0
227
0
227
0
227
0
213
0
213
0
213
5.19
4.63
5.68
4.60
6.39
5.42
5.51
4.03
6.43
4.22
7.49
6.14
1
152
2
76
1
4
3
85
1
3
2
3
17
73
0
121
2
80
19
69
4
65
0
54
5.20
4.54
5.74
4.44
6.42
5.36
5.49
4.05
6.18
4.26
7.56
6.46
1 20
125 114
6 3
21 189
5 5
10 110
Lakeland sand
2 36
5 137
9 16
6 81
4 6
7 126
5.37
4.67
5.79
4.69
6.46
5.48
5.73
4.41
6.28
4.64
7.61
6.01
1
104
1
12
3
8
2
56
1
4
1
1
38
150
27
193
54
210
32
55
85
102
47
106
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8
Soil acidity was altered by incorporation of garbage compost. Since the
compost itself had a pH of 8.4 the pH of the soils was increased with in-
creasing rates of compost. In the Decatur clay loam the lower rate of compost
increased the pH about 0.2 units and the higher rate about 1.0 pH units. In
the Lakeland sand, with less buffer capacity, the pH increases were 0.6 and
1.3 units, respectively. Addition of nitrogen from ammonium sulfate lowered
the initial pH of Decatur and Lakeland soils about 0.2 and 0.7 units, respec-
tively, in the absence of compost. The ammonium sulfate lowered the pH of
)cpmpost-treated soils 0.4 units in Decatur and 1.3 units in Lakeland.
In the absence of added ammonium sulfate there was little change in pH
of the soils during incubation. Approximately 26 ppm of soil organic nitrogen
was nitrified in Decatur clay loam over the 18-week period and this did not
affect the soil pH. In Lakeland sand there was a drop of about 0.4 pH units
with nitrification of about 25 ppm of soil organic nitrogen. Compost-treated
soils, especially the Decatur, without added nitrogen were essentially stable
in pH during incubation. In Lakeland with the low rate of compost there was
about 75 ppm of nitrogen nitrified at the later stages of incubation and pH
dropped about 0.4 units.
The 5 and 25 g additions of garbage compost amounted to 40 and 200 mg
nitrogen each. Thus in Decatur samples there was 91 and 454 ppm nitrogen
added in the compost at low and high rates of addition. In Lakeland soil the
compost additions supplied 85 and 426 ppm nitrogen. If the mineral nitrogen
increase of about 75 ppm observed in Lakeland soil at the lower compost rate
is corrected for about 25 ppm of soil-derived nitrogen, the 50 ppm balance
represents that released from the added compost, or about 60% in 18 weeks.
Mineralization of the higher compost rate added to Lakeland soil was delayed.
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In Decatur soil, no nitrogen was released from the lower rate of compost.
The 30 ppm nitrogen was released from the high rate and was equivalent to
7% of the total nitrogen applied as compost. These results show that compost
is very resistant to nitrogen mineralization. For 2 months or more there
was no mineralization at all, and then it was erratic and slow for 2 months
thereafter.
Application of ammonium sulfate to soils without compost was followed
by slow nitrification and strong acidity development. The Decatur soil pH
declined gradually to 4.5 at 12 weeks when about half of the applied nitrogen
was oxidized to nitrate. Considerable amounts of soil manganese were reduced
during this nitrification, which prevented a more drastic drop in pH. Soil
pH increased in the final sampling period despite continued nitrification.
At 18 weeks, the initial level of mineral nitrogen was recovered, along with
an additional 26 ppm, derived from soil organic nitrogen mineralized which
was in agreement with observations on Decatur soil without added nitrogen.
In Lakeland soil, initial mineral nitrogen was not recovered, and large de-
ficits were probably the result of volatilization during nitrification under
the extremely acid conditions. Soil pH dropped to 4.0 at 8 weeks, with less
than half of the applied nitrogen appearing as nitrate. The level of ammonium
continued to decline during this acid period without corresponding increase
in nitrate. This was considered to be the gaseous loss from chemically
unstable nitrite.
Addition of compost resulted in nitrogen immobilization in both soils.
Immobilization was maximum at 4 weeks in Decatur soil with a high rate of
compost, where 195 ppm of the initial 227 ppm added was immobilized. At
the lower rate of compost in Decatur, about 50 ppm nitrogen was the maximum
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10
immobilisation, which occurred at 2 weeks. In the presence of ample available
nitrogen it was apparent that nitrogen immobilization was proportional to the
amount of compost added.
In Lakeland soil with the high rate of compost, maximum immobilization
occurred at 2 weeks when 193 ppm of nitrogen became unavailable. This agrees
closely with results from Decatur. Beyond the maximum immobilization stage,
all samples gradually mineralized nitrogen which accumulated as nitrate. In
Decatur soil the initial level of mineral N was attained by 18 weeks, with
little or no loss in the process of conversion from ammonium to organic nitro-
gen to nitrate. In Lakeland soil, however, about one-half of the applied
nitrogen was unaccounted at the 18-week sampling. It was unlikely that much
remained immobilized at this stage. Apparently this deficit was volatiliza-
tion loss, as observed in soil without compost. Nitrification produced strongly
acid conditions in Lakeland sand with the lower rate of compost, and presumably
this enhanced the volatilization. At the high rate of compost, however, the
pH did not fall below about 5.8, and this should not have been acid enough for
nitrite instability.
These results show the compost to be immature since a considerable
period of time elapsed before the nitrogen in the compost was released. It
was biologically active enough to stimulate microbial growth and to im-
mobilize added nitrogen. About 200 parts of nitrogen were immobilized by
50,000 parts of added compost, or in the ratio of 4 parts nitrogen to 1,000
parts of compost dry matter. Recovery of immobilized nitrogen occurred after
about 8 weeks, with much of it appearing as nitrate. Where acidity was not
severe there was complete recovery of mineral nitrogen after 18 weeks.
These results indicated that in this original compost about 4 parts of
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11
nitrogen would be required for 1,000 parts of compost to avoid the depression
of available nitrogen when compost is incorporated into the soil.
Germination of Oat, Millet, Soybean, and Vetch Seeds in Garbage Compost
Germination of 'Moregrain' oats (Avena sativa L.) 'Gahi-No 1' millet
(Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) Staph and Hubbard) 'Bragg' soybeans (Glycine
max L.) and 'Commercial' vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) was determined in petri
plates containing 2 g whole compost with 5 ml water. A water extract was
prepared by shaking 2 g of compost in 100 ml of water for 1 hr and then leach-
ing through No. 31 Whatman filter paper with additional water to final volume
of 500 ml. Aliquots of 5 ml each were applied to folded absorbent paper in
petri plates. One series of plates was sterilized by autoclaving prior to
seeding, the other series was left with extract non-sterilized. Twenty-five
seeds were placed in each plate. Plates were incubated at 28°C in humid
cabinet.
At 1 week all treatments showed good germination and there were no
differences among species. During the first week it was observed that the
non-sterilized compost stimulated germination and vigor over sterilized com-
post and over distilled water controls. Water extract of compost did not
differ with sterilization and was not different from water controls.
These results indicated that the compost did not inhibit seed germination.
Apparently the deleterious effects of compost observed in field experiments
on plant growth were nutritional effects incurred later, rather than injury
during germination.
Response of Oats to Fertilizer and Compost in a Growth Chamber
Oats were grown on Lakeland sand in a growth chamber maintained each
day at 21°C for 12 hr with light at 3,500-foot candles and a dark period of
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12
12 hr at 16°C. Four hundred g samples of soil were placed in 236 ml milk
cartons. Three rates of compost were mixed into the samples: none, 4, and
20 g per carton, corresponding to 10,000 and 50,000 ppm on the air dry weight
basis (contains 7% H20). Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium treatments were
added to the 50,000 ppm compost cartons. These consisted of 80 mg nitrogen,
40 mg phosphorus, 70 mg potassium and combination of all three. Each sample
receiving any of the fertilizer elements also received calcium sulfate to
blanket out possible differences among the fertilizer sources resulting from
their content of calcium or sulfate.
Oats were grown in these samples for 3 weeks after which the plants
were cut at the base of the first leaf blade. The tops were oven dried at
70°C and weighed, Table 4.
Compost provided no growth stimulus to oats. Addition of nitrogen to
compost-treated soil made a substantial increase in growth. Phosphorus and
potassium, in the absence of added nitrogen had no stimulatory effect. These
results show the compost to be rather inert in release of nutrient to growing
plants, at least during a 3-week period.
After the oats were cut the first time the soil samples were treated
with ammonium nitrate solution to provide 0, 100, 200, 400, and 800 ppm ni-
trogen in each of the 7 initial treatments, thus eliminating the replications
but providing single-sample observations of the response to nitrogen in each
initial treatment. The oats were cut at the soil surface after 6 weeks of
growth, dried at 70°C and weighed, Table 5.
The 800 ppm nitrogen addition was injurious to the plants in all treat-
ments. Maximum yields were obtained at the 200 and 400 ppm nitrogen rates.
#
At the zero rate there was very little regrowth of oats except where nitrogen
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Table 4. Oven Dry Weights of First Cutting of Oats Grown
in a Growth Chamber
13
Yield in g per carton
Treatments
No.
1 .
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
10
50
No
No
No
,000 ppm
,000
. 3
. 3
. 3
ppm
+ 200
+ 100
+ 175
Combination
compost ....
compost ....
ppm nitrogen
ppm phosphorus .
ppm potassium .
No. 3,4,5,6
Rep
I
.26
.25
.24
.35
.23
.26
.36
Rep
II
.29
.26
.28
.35
.24
.25
.34
Rep
III
.29
.27
.25
.41
.27
.23
.49
Rep
IV
28
.24
.25
.39
.30
.25
.48
Rep
V
23
.24
.22
.45
.24
.19
.46
Av.
.27
.25
.25
.39
.26
.24
.43
Table 5. Oven-Dry Weights of Second Cutting of Oats
Grown in a Growth Chamber
Yield in g per carton
nitrogen added, ppm
No,
±
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Treatments
•
10,000 ppm compost ....
50,000 ppm compost ....
No. 3 + 200 ppm nitrogen .
No. 3 + 100 ppm phosphorus .
No. 3 + 175 ppm potassium
Combination of No. 3,4,5,6
0
.08
.09
.09
.58
.10
.14
.63
100
.40
.35
.46
.92
.34
.48
1.25
200
.44
.59
.54
.88
.96
.61
1.25
400
.22
.48
.33
.79
1.20
.77
1.25
800
.06
.06
.06
.12
.06
.04
.42
had been applied in the first growing period. No nitrogen was contributed by
the compost in the absence of fertilizer nitrogen. With high rates of nitro-
gen there was a positive interaction with residual phosphorus from the initial
treatment, but not with residual potassium. This indicated that when yield
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14
limitations of nitrogen deficiency were eliminated by high nitrogen fertili-
zation, phosphorus was the next limiting factor.
Fertility Experiments with Compost in a Greenhouse
Several proportions of original compost and Norfolk sandy loam soil were
used in a greenhouse pot experiment. The soil was of extremely low fertility
as a result of continuous cropping for many years without the addition of fer-
tilizer. Millet was planted from seed in one series of pots and sod plugs of
Tifton 57 bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers) 5.5 cm in diameter and 2.5
cm in height were placed in another series of pots.
Potting mixtures and fertilizer treatments are given in Table 6. The
fertilizer treatments were added to each of two successive crops without chang-
ing the soil-compost mixtures in the pots. Millet was harvested just before
the most advanced plants were heading. After millet was harvested the ferti-
lizer was mixed with the potting mixture. Fertilizer was added to the sur-
face of the potting mixture after the bermudagrass was clipped.
The compost had no effect on the germination of millet seeds.
Both the first and second crops of millet grown on compost alone reached
a height of about 6 cm and did not grow further irrespective of the fertilizer
treatment, Table 6. The small plants were yellow and unthrifty in appearance
but did not die. The weight of plants was less than 1 g per pot.
There was some growth of the bermudagrass on compost alone in the first
crop and this improved in the second crop. This growth was probably considerably
influenced by the nutrients in the original sod plug.
As the proportion of soil in the mixture increased and nitrogen, phos-
phorus and potassium were added there was a greater growth of millet and
bermudagrass in the first crop with the exception of millet on the all soil
pot. Nitrogen added alone had little effect on growth, verifying the low
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15
fertility status of the soil and its requirement for phosphorus and potassium.
Table 6. Effect of Compost-Soil Mixtures and Fertilizer
on the Yield of Forage Grown in a Greenhouse
Proportion
by
volume of
Soil Compost
None all
n n
n n
1/2 1/2
n n
n M
3/4 1/4
n M
n n
7/8 1/8
ii M
„
all none
n M
n n
,, • v . Ferti
Weight in
kg per pot
Soil Compost N
0 1.05 0
0.82
0.82
1.82 0.55 0
0.82
11 " 0.82
2.73 0.27 0
n n n QO
U. o/
II II f\ 00
U . o£
3.18 0.14 0
0.82
0.82
3.64 0 0
11 0 0.82
" 0 0.82
.lizer added
: crop in
per pot
P
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
K
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
Yield of oven- dry
forage in g per pot
Millet
1st
crop
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
3
12
0
3
16
1
1
12
2nd
crop
0
0
0
0
0
19
1
7
22
1
1
18
0
0
8
Bermudagrass
1st 2nd
crop crop
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
3
5
2
3
8
1
6
11
1
12
14
3
6
17
2
7
12
1
0
4
With succeeding crops the maximum yields of both crops were obtained with
1/8 or 1/4 compost by volume where complete fertilizer was applied. The lower
yields in the all soil mixture were attributed to the acid condition resulting
from the ammonium nitrate application to this lightly buffered soil. The
mixtures containing compost were highly buffered against pH changes.
-------
16
Growth of millet on the high compost mixtures increased with succeeding
crops, Table 7.
Table 7- Effect of Compost-Soil Mixtures and Fertilizer
on the Yield of Forage Grown in a Greenhouse
Proportion
by
volume of
Soil Compost
None all
n n
n n
1/2 1/2
n n
n n
3/4 1/4
M n
n n
7/8 1/8
„
n n
all none
n n
n n
Fertilizer added
Weight in per crop in
kg per pot g per pot
Soil Compost
0 1.05 0
0 " 0
0 " 0
1.82 0.54 0
0
0
2.73 0.27 0
II II n
II II Q
3.18 0.14 0
II II Q
" " 0
3.64 0 0
0 0
"0 0
N
.82
.82
.82
.82
.82
.82
.82
.82
.82
P
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
0
0
0.17
K
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
0
0
0.32
Yield of oven-dry
forage in g per pot
Millet
3rd
crop
0
2
13
5
16
32
6
5
28
8
0
18
1
0
18
4th
crop
1
2
10
4
1
8
2
1
3
2
0
1
1
0
2
Bermudagrass
3rd 4th
crop crop
4
8
12
3
10
"\
3
7
15
2
5
12
1
0
2
5
>
10
5
5
6
3
5
9
3
2
12'
2
0
0
Yields were generally lower in the fourth than in the third crop sin'ce the most
advanced plants tended to begin to head with less vegetative growth than in
previous crops. The acidity and the nitrogen-phosphorus inbalance resulted in
-------
17
the death of all plants where nitrogen alone was added to either the all soil
or the 1/8 compost pots. Bermudagrass also died where there was no compost
in the pots when nitrogen alone was added.
After the all compost pots had remained in the greenhouse in a moist
condition for about 1 year a fair plant could be grown where no fertilizer
had been added. This indicates that the original compost was immature but
with further decomposition it should be a suitable medium for plant growth.
However, in the immature stage large quantities of fertilizers will be re-
quired to obtain satisfactory plant growth.
A comparison of the original compost with Mobile Aid was made to deter-
mine their respective requirements for fertilizer elements. Equal volumes of
composts were compared as media for growth of millet. The original compost
pots contained 1.32 kg of material and the Mobile Aid pots contained 1.82 kg
of compost on an air dry basis. Five hundred ml of Hoagland's solution (5 times
the normal concentration) were added to each pot each week. In addition to the
complete nutrient solution, others were used in which certain essential nu-
trients were deleted, Table 8.
Table 8. Yield of Millet Grown on Compost Treated
with Five Strength Hoagland's Solutions
Solution added at
500 ml per pot per week
None ......
Complete
Minus nitrogen
Minus potassium
Minus phosphorus
Minus calcium
Yield of oven-dry forage in g per pot
Original compost Mobile Aid compost
0
19
0
7
0
5
0
25
0
28
0
25
-------
18
Fig. 2 shows the unthrifty plants obtained where no Hoagland's solution
was added. These plants reached the size expected by utilization of the
elements contained in the seed. As previously observed they did not die
but never exceeded 6 cm in height.
Greater amount of millet was obtained on the Mobile Aid than on original
compost where a complete Hoagland's solution was added, Fig. 3. This may
possibly be the result of the Mobile Aid being more refined and possibly
more mature. The white mold seen on the surface of the Mobile Aid compost
was not identified but apparently had no effect on plant growth. Where nitro-
gen was not added in the solution the other elements added had no effect on
growth. The plants had the same appearance as those where no Hoagland's
solution was added, Fig. 4.
The plants on Mobile Aid with the minus potassium solution added grew
as well as those receiving the complete solution. However, the minus potas-
sium solution resulted in a severe reduction in growth on the original compost.
Where phosphorus was absent in the solution, plants grew to about the
height of those where no solution was added. At 28 days of age plants were
living on the original compost but dead on the Mobile Aid, Fig. 5. After
40 days plants receiving no phosphorus were dead on both composts.
Leaving calcium out of the solution had no effect on the plants growing
in Mobile Aid but resulted in a large reduction in growth on the original
compost.
These experiments show that large quantities of both nitrogen and phos-
phorus were required to obtain any growth on either compost. Excellent growth
was obtained with a complete Hoagland's solution on both composts, Fig. 6.
With Mobile Aid the deletion of potassium and calcium had no effect on growth,
Table 8. Growth of millet on original compost was reduced when any of the
-------
19
Fig. 2. Appearance of millet on non fertilized original(L) and Mobile
Aid compost(R).
Fig. 3. Difference in growth of millet on original(L) and Mobile
Aid compost(R).
-------
20
Fig. 4. Effect of nitrogen on growth of millet in Mobile Aid Compost.
Fig. 5. Millet dead or dying where no phosphorus was applied to
original (L) and to Mobile Aid (R) compost.
-------
Fig. 6. Millet growth on original (L) and Mobile Aid (R) compost
with and without fertilizer.
-------
22
following elements were removed from solution: nitrogen, potassium, phos-
phorus, and calcium. This indicates that although the total nutrient contents
of both composts were similar evidently the Mobile Aid was more mature than the
original compost. Both composts probably would be satisfactory for plant
growth if they were added to soil several months before seeding or if the
carbon-nitrogen ratio was considerably reduced by further composting.
Garbage Compost for Reclamation of Soils Containing Toxic Amounts
of Herbicides
Many synthetic organic herbicides are persistent in soils since soil
microflora lacks the enzymatic capacity for assimilation and degradation of
the chemicals. Often the degradation that occurs is slow and in proportion
to the level of microbial activity utilized in decomposing organic matter.
Since laboratory experiments have shown that herbicide decomposition in
soils was increased by the addition of decomposable plant material, field ex-
periments were designed to determine the effect of the original compost on
toxicity from excessive herbicide concentrations.
Experiments were located on Chesterfield sandy loam, Norfolk loamy sand,
Houston clay, Decatur clay loam and Marlboro fine sandy loam. Herbicides ap-
plied were bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil), picloram (4-amino-3,
5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), fluometuron (l,l-dimethyl-3-(a,a,a,-trifluoro-m-
tolyl)urea), trifluralin (a,a,a,-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) ,
and simazine (2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-S-triazine). Rates of active ma-
terial applied were 50 Ib per acre of bromacil and 30 Ib per acre of all other
herbicides. These rates were 10 times or more than recommended rates for
use in weed control and were applied to establish initial toxic conditions in
the soil. There was a compost amendment and a non-amended treatment on each
area treated with herbicides. Compost containing 20% water was spread 3 inches
-------
23
deep over the soil surface. This was approximately 224 tons (metric)/ha or
100 tons (English)/A. Compost was disked into the soil. Fertilizer was
applied uniformly over the experimental areas as needed.
'Abruzzi' rye (Secale cereale L.). 'Ga. 1123', oats, wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.), 'Gulf' ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), Caley peas (Lathyurs
hirsutus L.), 'Ky. 31' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb), vetch,
'Autauga1 crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and 'Ladino' clover
(Trifolium repens L.) were planted in rows across all plots in September and
October. Visual estimates of herbicide injury were made at intervals during
the growing period. Ratings ranged from 0 (no injury) to 100 (complete kill).
The soil was turned in the following spring and prepared for planting
summer crops. One row each of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), corn (Zea mays
L.)> "Early runner' peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) and soybeans was planted
on each plot. Herbicide injury was rated at intervals thereafter by the same
scale, 0 to 100. Crop growth was measured by green weight yields of cotton,
corn, and soybeans cut at the ground level and peanut plants pulled with roots
and nuts. After harvest, the soil was turned and prepared for planting the
fall crops. Fall crops planted were those of the previous year with exception
of caley peas, which was deleted after the first crop. Injury ratings were
made on these crops, then green weight yields were obtained by mowing in the
spring.
Cotton, corn, peanuts, and soybeans were replanted the second year.
Injury ratings were made during the summer and yields were measured in the
fall. Green weight of above-ground portions of cotton and peanuts were ob-
tained from the experiment on Marlboro soil along with grain yield of corn
and bean yield of soybeans. Yields of seed cotton, grain corn, threshed
soybeans, and green weight of peanut vines were obtained from the test on
-------
24
Decatur soil. Similar data were obtained on Norfolk soil except that soy-
beans were not included. On the Houston soil grain corn yields and green
weight yields of the other crops were measured. Yields of grain corn, seed
cotton and threshed soybean were obtained from the experiment on Chesterfield
soil. After removal of the summer crops the soil was turned and prepared for
the third fall seeding using the species previously planted.
Influence of the compost on herbicide toxicity was apparent early in
the experiments. Toxicity of fluometuron and trifluralin was reduced in the
presence of the compost. Results from the Norfolk soil showed this ameliora-
tion in the first crops grown after treatments were established, Table 9.
Observations at the other locations indicated a general reduction in toxicity
as a result of the application of compost on areas treated with these two
herbicides. Toxicity from simazine, picloram, and bromacil was not affected
by compost.
Crop growth on Decatur clay loam where picloram was added was limited
to grasses, since all broadleaf plants were killed. Corn and the winter gras-
ses, rye, wheat, oats, fescue, and ryegrass persisted in much reduced stand
but produced little yield. Compost did not affect picloram toxi,city and the
toxic condition diminished slowly.
Bromacil was essentially a soil sterilant, leaving neither grasses nor
broadleaf plants on Decatur soil.
Yields with the fluometuron, trifluralin, and simazine treatments are
given in Table 10. Data for the first summer crop are green weights, per 30
ft of row. Data for rye, wheat, and oats yields are sums of the 3 species.
In the second year, crop growth on many of the plots was already returning
*
to normal and yields were measured of harvestable crops, except in the case
-------
Table 9. Herbicide Injury Ratings on the First Fall Crops after Applying
Compost on Norfolk Sandy LoantL/
Rep I
Rep II
Rep III
Av.
Treatment
Grasses Legumes Grasses Legumes Grasses Legumes Grasses Legumes
Bromacil 100 100
Bromacil + compost .... 95 70
Picloram 40 100
Picloram + compost .... 0 100
Fluometuron 98 85
Fluometuron + compost ... 40 80
Simazine 85 70
Simazine + compost .... 85 70
Trifluralin 98 95
Trifluralin + compost ... 80 75
No herbicide 0 0
No herbicide + compost ... 0 0
100
100
0
0
100
75
90
95
100
80
0
0
100
85
100
100
30
50
30
55
100
80
0
0
100
98
0
0
100
40
100
95
100
75
0
0
98
95
100
100
90
95
95
80
100
65
0
0
100
98
13
0
99
52
92
92
99
78
0
0
99
83
100
100
68
75
65
68
98
73
0
0
—Rating of 0 = no injury, 100 = complete kill of plants.
Ln
-------
Table 10. Crop Growth on Decatur Clay Loam Treated with Herbicides
and Compost
First summer crop First winter crop
Herbicide treatment
Fluometuron + compost .
Xrifluralin ....
Xrifluralin -f compost .
Simazine + compost .
No herbicide ....
No herbicide + compost .
green weight
Cotton
Lb.
. 37.6
.36.8
0
71.3
18.5
5.1
50.6
35.2
Corn
Lb.
0.4
4.1
0
6.0
13.8
15.4
19.8
21.4
Peanuts
Lb.
0
0.2
5.9
18.2
0
1.6
16.3
4.4
Soybeans
Lb.
0
0
0.1
12.7
6.9
0
27.8
7.5
green
Small
Lb
0.
5.
0.
5.
5.
6.
2.
6.
weight
grain
9
0
7
1
6
9
1
0
Seed
cotton
Lb
3.
5.
1.
4.
4.
4.
3.
4.
67
50
25
58
17
25
58
08
Second summer crop
Shelled
corn
Lb.
3.92
10.33
1.58
8.25
7.17
10.67
11.92
11.50
Green
peanuts
Lb.
1.75
16.17
12.50
32.75
23.17
20.67
24.50
23.83
Threshed
soybeans
Lb.
0
2.27
3.42
7.08
5.45
6.17
5.85
6.87
-------
27
of peanuts where entire plants were harvested.
Trends in toxicity with time, comparing herbicide alone with herbicide
plus compost, are shown for simazine, fluometuron, and trifluralin, Figs. 7,
8, 9). Points for the first summer crops are average ratings of cotton, corn,
peanuts, and soybeans. The November data points are average ratings of vetch,
ryegrass, oats, wheat, and rye. The March ratings for these crops included
fescue, crimson clover, and ladino clover as well as the above winter crops.
Plants for ratings in June the second year were averages of the four summer
crops.
Simazine was toxic to cotton, peanuts, and soybeans, Fig. 7. Occasional
plants escaped and STirvived to make some growth, but this did not seem to fol-
low any pattern. Corn growth was reduced slightly by this rate of simazine.
Compost additions had little if any effect on simazine injury.
Eye, wheat, and oats, grew as well on simazine plots as on the check
plots with no difference because of compost. Apparently simazine was lost
from the soil at a rapid rate regardless of compost treatment.
Flraometuron completely eliminated peanuts and soybeans in the first
year, 9 months after herbicide application, Fig. 8. Cotton and corn were more
tolerant of fluometuron; however, little survived as the season progressed.
The addition of compost resulted in some growth of corn and much improved
cotton on. fluometuron plots. Ratings of injury to crops following in the
fall showed the ameliorating influence of compost. Oats, wheat, and rye were
especially sensitive to fluometuron in the absence of compost, but showed no
injury in the presence of compost. Similar ratings of these crops in the
spring showed advanced injury to all species with fluometuron alone and little
if any injury with compost. Fluometuron residues had apparently diminished
by the second year since peanuts and soybeans survived and made some growth
-------
simozme
., simazine + compost
A winter crops
© summer crops
DH r—i 1 r i—i i 1 i i i
July ASONDJanFMAMJ July
First year Second year
Fig. 7. Injury from simazine to crops
'on Decatur clay loam
1x3
CO
-------
fluometuron
fluometuron + compost
A winter crops
© summer crops
TSf
July ASONDJanFMAMJ July
First year Second year
Fig. 8. Injury from fluometuron to crops
on Decatur clay loam
tvj
-------
30
even in the absence of compost. However, in presence of compost these crops
made considerable growth with only slight injury. Cotton and corn were mod-
erately injured with fluometuron alone but with compost these crops were equal
to or better than the control.
These results show that compost facilitated the return of Decatur soil
to normal production of cotton, corn, and small grains within 2 years after
application of 30 Ib per acre of fluometuron. Without compost, appreciable
injury persisted especially to peanuts and soybeans.
The effect of compost on trifluralin toxicity was equal to or greater
than that on fluometuron in this soil, Fig. 9. The first summer crops were
essentially eliminated with trifluralin alone, only a few peanut and soybean
plants escaping. With compost, however, growth of cotton, peanuts, and soy-
beans was equivalent to plots where compost but no trifluralin was added. Corn
continued to show injury from trifluralin, although injury was reduced by
compost.
Vetch tolerated trifluralin but other fall crops were severely injured
and oats were essentially eliminated. Compost rendered trifluralin non toxic
to rye and wheat and increased the survival of fescue and ryegrass.
All second year summer crops showed severe trifluralin injury in the
absence of compost, yet on composted plots the injury was nil. Compost re-
stored trifluralin-toxic soil to the productive potential of the controls
within 1 year after application.
Trends in crop injury on Marlboro fine sandy loam are shown in Figs. 10,
11, and 12. Harvested crops weights are given in Table 11.
Injury was severe in summer crops planted only a month after fluometuron
application, Fig. 10. Cotton was more tolerant of fluometuron than were the
-------
i
en
a.
o
*_
o
o
13
C.
100
90-
80-
70-
60-
50-
40
30-
20-
10-
0
trifluralin
trifluralin + compost
winter crops
© summer crops
July ASONDJanFMAMJ July
First year Second year
Fig. 9. Injury from trifluralin to crops
on Decatur clay loam
-------
fr?
I
CL
O
o
O
ZJ
c
100
90
80
70
60-
50
40-
30
20
10-
0
0-
fluometuron
fluometuron
A winter crops
© summer crops
.\
compost \
\
June J A S 0
First year
N D Jan. F M A M
Second year
J J Aug.
Fig. 10. Injury from fluometuron to crops
on Marlboro fine sandy loam
NJ
-------
Table 11. Crop Growth on Marlboro Fine Sandy Loam Treated with Herbicides
and Compost.
Herbicide treatment
Fluometuron
Fluometuron 4- compost
Trifluralin . . .
Trifluralin + compost
Simazine + compost
PVi Q .-V .....
Check + compost
First
summer crop
First winter crop
Green weight
Cotton
Ib
48.7
. 110.0
16.1
. 63.1
. 0
0
81 4
. 84.3
Corn
Ib
0
0.1
0
0
29.8
19.4
37.4
42.5
Peanuts
Ib
0
0
1.4
3.3
0
0
18.4
17.1
Soybeans
Ib
3.6
0
7.1
2.1
0
0
11.3
18.7
Green
Small
1
6
0
1
17
11
17
26
weight
grain
Ib
.5
.0
.5
.8
.5
.6
.6
Green wt
cotton
Ib
98.
89.
62.
102.
48.
47.
23.
59.
0
0
0
0
7
7
8
3
Second summer crop
.Shelled
corn
Ib
5.4
14.3
2.5
1.7
15.9
15.9
12.8
16.9
Green
peanuts
Ib
1.0
1.6
17.6
25.2
18.4
1.6
18.5
15.2
S eed
soybeans
Ib
2.2
0.6
4.4
4.1
4.9
9.8
5.2
3.6
00
-------
Q.
O
k_
o
O
13
C
100-
90-
80-
70-
60-
50-
40-
30-
20-
10-
0
0--
triflurolin
trifluralin + compost
A winter crops
0 summer crops
June J A S 0
First year
N D Jan. F M A
Second year
M J J Aug.
Fig. 11. Injury from trifluralin to crops
on Marlboro fine sandy loam
U)
-------
100
90
80
-* 70
0^
, 60
(O
§• 50
°4°
>s 30
w.
•=r 20
10
simozme
simozine + compost
A winter crops
© summer crops
Oi r , , -,
June J A S 0
First year
N D Jan. F M A M J
Second year
J Aug.
Fig. 12. Injury from simazine to crops
on Marlboro fine sandy loam
U)
Ul
-------
36
other crops. Compost improved the growtli of cotton on fluometuron plots
to equal that on control plots in the first growing season.
Compost markedly improved the survival of ladino and crimson clover,
vetch, rye, wheat, and ryegrass in fluometuron treated soil. Yields of win-
ter crops showed herbicide injury, yet there was considerable amelioration
with compost. Similarly, compost reduced fluometuron toxicity to cotton and
corn in the second year. The influence on soybean and peanut injury was
slight, however. These results agree well with those obtained with flu-
ometuron on Decatur soil.
Trifluralin was very toxic to all crops in the first planting after
application, yet where compost was added there was considerable growth of
cotton. Trifluralin severely injured the first fall crops and yields of
the second crops were very low. Compost showed little influence on triflur-
alin injury to the fall crops. The following spring, compost appeared to
reduce the toxicity to cotton, peanuts, and soybeans but not to corn. Yields
in the second year showed that compost aided the return of normal growth of
cotton on trifluralin-treated soil. Enough trifluralin persisted to injure
corn but not cotton.
Simazine was highly toxic to crops on Marlboro soil in the summer after
its application in March. Corn was the only species to survive, and compost
did not enhance growth. Winter crops similarly were not benefited by com-
post applied to simazine treated soil. Satisfactory yields of small grains
were obtained regardless of compost treatment.
Simazine injury symptoms on the second summer crops were much reduced,
with apparently little effect from compost. Yields showed little residual
toxicity effects of simazine less than 2 years after application.
-------
37
Results of injury on Norfolk loamy sand are graphed in Fig. 13, 14, and
15 with crop yields given in Table 12.
Some contamination of herbicide treatments across plots was apparent in
the first fall seeded crops as the result of lateral movement of surface
water. Subsequent cropping indicated the contamination decreased with time
and was probably superficial.
The compost effects of fluometuron and trifluralin observed on Decatur
and Marlboro soils were not observed on Norfolk soil. Injury ratings with
these herbicides and simazine on Norfolk soil showed decreasing toxicity
with time, but no consistent differences because of compost. Yields of win-
ter crops and cotton and corn in the second year indicated that simazine was
gone from the soil less than 2 years after application. Fluometuron had dis-
appeared as indicated by cotton and corn. Enough trifluralin persisted to
injure corn but not cotton.
Injury ratings on Houston clay are shown in Figs. 16, 17,and 18 with
harvested plant weights given in Table 13.
Fluometuron responded to compost addition in much the same manner as on
Decatur and Marlboro soils. Ratings the first year indicated a high toxicity
in all fluometuron plots. Oats and ryegrass grown where fluometuron was
applied appeared to benefit from compost additions.
Compost appeared to alleviate the toxicity of trifluralin to some extent,
but results were not consistent. Yields in the second season showed that
compost eliminated .the toxicity of trifluralin to cotton, corn, and soybeans,
Table 13. Similarly, compost on simazine plots produced crop growth similar
to the controls.
Table 14 presents the crop yields on Chesterfield sandy loam. Ratings
-------
i
CO
100
90-
80-
70-
60-
50-
30-
20-
10-
0-
f luometuron
f luometuron 4-compost
A winter crops
0 summer crops
Mar A M J J
First year
i i
A S 0 N D Jan. F M A M J J Aug.
Second year
Fig. 13. Injury from fluometuron to crops
on Norfolk sandy loam
u>
00
-------
trifluralin + compost
A winter crops
© summer crops .'
JMar. A MJJ A
First year
BOND Jan. F M A M J J Aug.
Second year
Fig. 14. Injury from trifluralin to crops
on Norfolk sandy loam
-------
simazine + compost
winter crops
© summer crops
Mar A M J J A
First year
0 N
D Jan. F M A M J J Aug.
Second year
Fig. 15. Injury from simazine to crops
on Norfolk loamy sand
-------
fluometuron
__ fiuometuron + compost
winter crops
summer crops
Q_| , , , ! , , r
Juiy A S 0 N D Jon. F
First year
M A M J J
Second year
A Sept.
Fig. 16. Injury from fluometuron to
crops on Houston clay
-------
winter crops
summer crops
0
July A S 0 N D Jan. F M A M J J A Sept
First year Second year
Fig. 17. Injury from trifluralin to
crops on Houston clay
-------
100
simazine
simazine + compost
A winter crops
© summer crops
"0
0
©
July A S 0 N D Jan. F M A M J J A Sept
First year Second year
Fig. 18. Injury from simazine to
crops on Houston clay
-------
Table 12, Crop Growth on Norfolk Loamy Sand Treated with Herbicides and Compost.
44
First summer crop
Green
Cotton
Fluometuron ....
Fluometuron + compost.
Trifluralin
Trifluralin + compost
Simazine ....
Simazine 4- compost
Check
Check -f compost •
Lb.
47.7
.31.0
28.5
. 0
3.4
1.7
1.2
13.6
wt.
Corn
Lb.
1.0
2.7
1.8
0.1
14.3
19.2
8.4
16.4
First winter crop
Green wt .
Small grain
Lb.
5.1
4.6
5.4
3.4
6.1
7.1
4.2
7.5
Second summer crop
Seed
cotton
Lb.
3.4
3.0
3.1
3.3
1.8
1.4
0.3
2.1
Ear
corn.
Lb.
3.4
3.6
0.2
0.3
3.4
1.8
1.4
3.0-
-------
45
Table 13.
Crop Growth on Houston Clay Treated with Herbicides and Compost
First summer crop
Green
cotton
Fluometuron
Fluometuron + compost •
Trifluralin
Trifluralin + compost .
Simazine
Simazine + compost
Check
Check + compost ....
Lb.
13.4
16.6
12.5
12.4
. 0.2
0
12.2
6.1
Green
corn
Lb.
0.4
1.6
2.8
14.6
4.3
12.9
14.2
5.1
Second summer crop
Green
cotton
Lb.
47.0
56.6
41.9
61.3
44.4
61.4
35.2
65.7
Ear
corn
Lb.
8.9
8.3
9.3
12.7
10.7
12.4
7.7
11.4
Green
peanuts
Lb.
0
0.7
9.9
7.2
0.9
4.4
3.1
8.0
Green
soybeans
Lb.
5.6
4.5
10.4
12.2
8.6
9.1
6.6
9.4
-------
Table 14. Crop Growth on Chesterfield Sandy Loam Treated with Herbicides and Compost
First summer crop
First winter crop Second summer
Green weight
Herbicide treatment
Fluometuron ....
Fluometuron + compost •
Trifluralin
Trifluralin + compost .
Simazine + compost .
Thprk ....
Check + compost
Cotton
Lb
4.9
36.4
30.3
18.0
1.6
0.3
20.4
45.4
Corn
Lb
31.2
22.5
2.2
1.0
19.2
37.7
8.6
44.8
Peanuts
Lb
7.7
0.4
4.1
9.4
0.6
0
5.8
10.4
Soybeans
Lb
0
0.1
0
0.3
0
0.2
o
0
Green weight
Small grain
Lb
1.
6.
6.
6.
13.
12.
11.
13.
9
5
1
9
o
2
5
6
Seed
cotton
Lb
1.8
3.7
2.3
3.0
1.8
2.0
1.8
2.5
Ear
corn
Lb
3.
7.
8.
4.
10.
15.
8.
10.
crop
Seed
soybeans
Lb
8
7
2
2
2
3
9
9
1
1
4
4
3
3
1
5
.2
.4
.7
.3
.2
.3
.9
.4
-------
47
made the first year showed that fluometuron injury to cotton was reduced by
addition of compost. Among the winter crops, oats yield was most increased
by compost. Cotton yield in the second year showed that compost additions
ameliorated the fluometuron treatment to where yields were similar to the
controls.
Trifluralin effects appeared to be moderated in the first year by compost
as indicated in the August ratings, yet yields that year did not verify this.
Results with winter crops and the second summer crops showed that trifluralin
toxicity was rapidly diminishing regardless of compost treatment. Similar
results were obtained with simazine.
To determine the depth of penetration of herbicides into the soil, ex-
periments on Norfolk and Decatur soils were sampled approximately 8 months
after applications of herbicides and compost. A bucket auger was used, taking
soil from 0-6", 6-12", and 12-18" depth at 2 positions in each plot. The
12-18" depth was omitted on the Decatur soil. Soil samples were air dried,
screened to pass a 1/4" mesh, and weighed into milk cartons using 350 g of
soil. Cotton, soybeans, and oats were planted and grown in the greenhouse
for 4 weeks. The above ground portions were cut and dry weight determined.
Treatment means are given in Tables 15 and 16.
Bromacil was most toxic to oats and least to soybeans. All depths in
both soils contained lethal amounts of bromacil for oats. Growth of cotton
indicated bromacil moved below the 0-6" depth to such an extent that the
greatest residue occurred in the 12-18" depth. Soybean yields were reduced
to about one-half of the controls in all depths. Compost had no effect on
bromacil toxicity.
Soybeans x^ere more sensitive to picloram than were oats. None of the
broadleaf species survived at either depth in the Decatur soil whereas there
-------
48
Table 15. Yield of Plants Grown on Decatur Clay Loam Soil
8 Months after Herbicide Treatment.
Herbicide
treatment
Bromacil ....
Bromacil + compost .
Picloram ....
Picloram + compost .
Fluometuron .
Fluometuron + compost
Simazine ....
Simazine + compost .
Trifluralin . .
Trifluralin + compost
Check
Check + compost .
Soil
Cotton
g
.11
.07
0
0
.23
.30
.13
.22
. .21
.28
.40
.33
Yield o
from 0-6"
Soybeans
g
.26
.16
0
0
.18
.36
.41
.27
.34
.58
.63
.47
f oven dry
depth
Oats
g
.08
.06
.23
.23
.13
.10
.14
.14
.07
.18
.23
.19
plants pe:
Soil
Cotton
g
.02
.10
0
0
.43
.23
.17
.32
.23
.25
26
• £. \J
.26
' carton
from 6-12"
Soybeans
g
.32
.18
0
0
.41
.23
.41
.25
.42
.48
c;i
. J -L
.30
depth
Oats
g
.08
.08
.19
.13
.13
.10
.14
.10
.19
.28
i 7
• -L /
.28
-------
Table 16. Yield of oven-Dry Plants Grown on Norfolk Sandy L°am soil 8 Months
after Herbicide Treatment.
Yield of oven-dry plants
Herbicide
treatment
Bromacil .....
Bromacil + compost
Picloram + compost .
Fluometuron ....
Fluometuron + compost
Simazine + compost .
Trifluralin + compost
Check + compost
Soil from 0-6" depth
Cotton
g
.16
.06
.04
.18
.48
.52
.16
.44
.21
.37
.26
.44
Soybeans
g
.33
.32
0
.08
.75
.38
.65
.41
.35
.26
.52
.89
Oats
g
.04
.03
.28
.34
.14
.10
.20
.15
.13
.06
.26
.33
per carton
Soil from 6-12" depth
Cotton
g
0
.17
0
.12
.43
.45
.13
.47
.26
.41
.52
.39
Soybeans
g
.25
.37
0
0
.66
.33
.45
.82
.53
.25
.46
.71
Oats
g
.02
.01
.10
.29
.21
.13
.28
.25
.15
.21
.33
.29
Soil from 12-18"
Cotton
g
0
0
0
.09
.49
.44
.46
.31
.38
.44
.40
.50
Soybeans
g
.27
.18
0
0
.81
.55
.63
.66
.64
.23
.57
.44
depth
Oats
g
.04
.03
.07
.16
.24
.16
.30
.24
.25
.31
.28
.26
-------
50
was slight growth on the Norfolk soil, especially in the 0-6" surface soil-
Apparently picloram moved out of the surface soil to a considerable extent.
While oats were more tolerant of picloram, their growth in subsoil samples
was reduced below the controls.
Cotton and soybeans in fluometuron-treated soil responded to compost, but
this effect was confined to the 0-6" depth of Decatur clay loam. Oats showed
fluometuron toxicity down to 12" in both soils and this was not modified by
compost.
Simazine was injurious to all three crops in Decatur soil with little if
any effect of compost. Simazine effects in Norfolk soil were slight and
followed no distinct pattern.
Compost enhanced the growth of all crops in trifluralin-containing Decatur
soil. In Norfolk soil there was little difference between composted and non-
composted soil containing trifluralin.
SUMMARY OF EFFECTS OF COMPOST ON HERBICIDE TOXICITY
1. Bromacil and picloram showed strong phytotoxicity not responsive to
compost addition. These materials appeared to be dissipated by movement into
the subsoil.
2. Fluometuron and trifluralin toxicity were markedly reduced by addition
of compost such that near normal crop growth was obtained within 2 years of
herbicide application. The amelioration of toxicity occurred too rapidly
after incorporation of compost to result from stimulus to microbial degrada-
tion of the herbicide. More likely, the rapid loss of toxicity resulted from
a physical adsorption of the herbicide by the compost which removed it from
biological activity. Perhaps the chemical nature of fluometuron and triflur-
alin favored their attraction and retention by organic matter of the compost.
-------
51
3. Simazine lost toxicity without apparent influence of the compost.
This suggested that a major loss process of simazine was non-biological and
unresponsive to increased microbial activity.
Use of Compost in Establishment of Fine Turfgrasses
Various organic materials are used as amendments to modify soils for bet-
ter production of fine turf on golf courses, athletic fields, home lawns, and
other areas receiving heavy traffic. The primary reason for use of organic
matter is to improve the physical and chemical properties of soil and thereby
improve water relationships and nutrient supplying capacities. The objectives
of this experiment were to compare the original garbage compost with rotted
sawdust as soil amendments for establishment of bermudagrass and to determine
the value of the compost as a source of nitrogen for the grass.
The experiment was conducted on Chesterfield sandy loam soil. A soil test
prior to establishment showed a pH of 5.9 with high levels of both phosphorus
and potassium. The area was fumigated with methylbromide, broken deeply sev-
eral times with a bermuda plow and turned. A broadcast per acre application
of 1 ton of lime, 100 pounds of nitrogen, 44 pounds of phosphorus, and 83
pounds of potassium was made.
Next the area was disked and dragged smooth and compost or sawdust spread
uniformly over the appropriate plots. The compost and sawdust were then in-
corporated into the soil to a depth of approximately 6 inches.
The area was smoothed and one-half the area was sprigged to Tifdwarf ber-
mudagrass and the other half to Tiflawn variety. Grass sprigs were set in rows
12 inches apart and placed at 6-inch intervals in the row. After planting the
area was rolled to attain a smooth level surface. The grass was watered and
mowed as needed. One-half of the area received five additional topdressings
-------
52
of nitrogen each season at the rate of 80 Ib of nitrogen per acre applied
at each application.
Ratings and measurements of color and coverage were made during a period
of 2 years. Measurement of growth of individual sprigs made 6 weeks after plant-
ing showed that when additional nitrogen was not supplied both compost and saw-
dust were detrimental to growth of both varieties of bermuda, Table 17. Addi-
tions of nitrogen alleviated the problem in the case of sawdust but did not
completely overcome the adverse effects of the compost on Tifdwarf bermuda.
Ratings made 100 days after planting showed that sawdust was more in-
jurious to both the bermudas than was compost. The addition of nitrogen off-
set almost completely the effects of compost on both color and coverage, Table
18. The plots receiving sawdust consistently rated lower for color even when
nitrogen was supplied. The most plausable explanation was that the sawdust
was undergoing more active decomposition thus immobilizing more soil nitrogen.
Another possibility was the release of toxic materials from the sawdust.
The deleterious effect of the sawdust was evident on both grasses through-
out the 2-year period. Some beneficial effects from the compost treatments
were noted during the second season. Evidently the compost was supplying a
small amount of nitrogen which improved the color over that obtained from
the unamended soil, Table 19. Coverage rate was not affected as greatly by
the compost as was the color.
Soil samples collected during January and November of the second season
showed no changes in phosphorus, potassium or pH from any treatments. This
was to be expected as the area was limed and adequately fertilized at the be-
ginning. Also the soil tested high in phosphorus and potassium at the outset.
No measurements of soil compaction were made; however, the soil on
areas receiving amendments were noticeably less compacted.
-------
53
Table 17. Effects of Incorporated Sawdust and Garbage Compost
on Rate of Spread of Two Hybrid Bermudagrasses
Amendment
Volume in ftj
Type per yd^ of area
Compost . . . . 0. 75
Compost . . . 2.25
Sawdust . . . 0.75
Sawdust . . . 2.25
No amendment
Compost • • • 0.75
Compost . . . 2.25
Sawdust • • • 0.75
Sawdust . . . 2.25
No amendment
Diameteri'
No N
in.
10 85
8.86
9.58
6.78
11.75
Diameter—'
No N
in.
12.16
13.52
14.42
13.92
20.21
of Tifdwarf Plants—'
N added
in.
8 92
8.56
9.25
10.53
11.05
of Tiflawn Plants.?-/
N added
in.
21.62
19.96
20.47
21.92
20.49
—'Measurements are an average of the greatest diameter in inches of
10 plants per plot.
2 /
—Sprigs were planted June 20 and measurements made August 7.
-------
54
Table 18. Effects of Incorporated Sawdust and Garbage Compost
on Color and Coveratei' 100 Days after Planting
Color
Tiflawn
Treatment
Compost ....
Compost ....
Sawdust
Sawdust ....
No amendment
Compost ....
No amendment
No N
3.3
3.5
1.3
2.0
4.5
No N
3.8
3.8
4.5
1.5
6.8
N
10.0
10.0
10.0
9.3
10.0
Color
N
9.5
9.8
9.5
8.0
9.8
ratings!/
Tif dwarf
No N
5.5
6.0
2.5
0.5
5.3
ratings^'
No N
5.0
5.0
4.8
1.0
7.3
N
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
N
6.8
6.8
8.5
7.8
8.3
—'Ratings were made during September of the first season.
2/
-'Color ratings: 1 = lightest green; 10 = darkest green
3/
-'Cover ratings: 1 = less than 10%; 10 = 100% coverage
-------
Table 19. Color and Coverage Ratings of T>wo Bermudagrassas at Several Dates During the Second Season
Color Ratings!/
Treatment
Apr. 9
T if lawn
May 16
Tifdwarf
Aug. 5
May 16
Aug.
Coverage Ratings—'
Tiflawn
5 Apr. 9
May 16
Dec. 5
Apr. 9
Tifdwarf
May 16
Dec. 5
No additional nitrogen applied
Compost
Compost
Sawdust
Sawdust
No amendment
Compost
Compost
Sawdust
Sawdust • • •
No amendment
2.5
5.5
1.0
5.0
4.5
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
3.5
6.0
2.0
4.5
5.5
10.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
10.0
4.5
5.0
3.0
3.5
4.0
10.0
10.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
6.6
6.0
3.0
1.5
4.5
9.5
10.0
8.5
8.5
9.0
5.0
6.0
4.0
1.0
3.5
Nitrogen
9.5
9.5
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
8.5
8.5
6.5
10.0
applied as
9.5
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
8.0
7.0
6.5
4.5
9.5
needed
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
9.8
9.8
9.8
9.5
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
4.5
5.0
1.5
1.0
2.5
7.0
7.0
6.5
7.0
7.0
5.5
5.5
3.5
1.5
4.5
8.5
9.0
8.0
8.5
9.5
9.5
9.3
9.0
8.8
9.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
—/Color ratings: 1 = lightest green; 10 = darkest green
—/Cover ratings: 1 = less than 10% coverage; 10 = 100% coverage
-------
56
Conclusions: Frequent applications of nitrogen were necessary to main-
tain adequate growth and color of Tifdwarf and Tiflawn bermuda when either
compost or sawdust were used as a soil amendment. During the second season
after establishment compost released a small amount of nitrogen to the
grasses; whereas, sawdust continued to create a nitrogen deficit.
Compost on Roadsides
Experiments were conducted at 5 locations in Alabama to determine the
value of compost in establishing vegetation on roadsides where conventional
methods had failed. A brief description of each area is presented below.
Battleship Parkway (BSP ROW)
The area was composed of beach sand overlayed with a 6-8-inch layer
of silty topsoil. The topography was smooth and level. The water table on
this area was approximately 40 inches below the soil surface. The area was
located at Battleship Parkway, Mobile, Alabama.
Stapleton
This area consists of strip of median on U. S. 31 4 miles north of
its intersection with Alabama Highway 59. The area slopes from each highway
lane to a drainage canal in the center of the median. The degree of slope
varies considerably along the test area. Plots were laid out across both
slopes from pavement to pavement. Soil on the area varied from clay subsoil
on the upper portions of the slopes to deep sandy loam near the bottom of the
slopes. The area had been vegetated a few years before when the road was
constructed but the .cover plants failed to survive.
Spanish Fort
The area was located on Alabama Highway 225, near Spanish Fort, Alabama.
» t
The area consisted of highway back slopes primarily composed of subsoil and
-------
57
parent material of the Cuthbert soil series. Sandstone in varying degrees
of weathering was abundant.
Daleville
The area was located on Alabama Highway 92 on the bridge approach to
Choctawhatchee River west of Daleville, Alabama. The soil type in the
general area was a Huckabee fine sand. The soil on the test area consisted
of topsoil and subsoil used for fill on the bridge approach. The plots were
located on steep front slopes on each side of the pavement.
Athens
This experiment was on the backslopes of U.S.-31, 7 miles north of the
Tennessee River bridge at Decatur, Alabama. The soil was Decatur clay.
Experimental Procedure
The areas were reshaped to highway specifications with road building
equipment. Lime was applied to each area in sufficient quantities to raise
the pH into an acceptable range for plant growth. A broadcast application'of
one ton per acre of 8-8-8 fertilizer was applied to all plots except treatment
15 which received one ton of 0-8-8 fertilizer, Table 20. The plots varied
in dimensions with location and were from 2,000-4,000 square feet in size.
After application of compost and sawdust the entire area was disked to in-
corporate the added amendment.
The four southern Alabama locations were seeded with 'Pensacola' bahia-
grass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) at 50 Ib/A, 'Sericea' lespedeza (Lespedeza
cuneata (Dumont) G. Don) at 25 Ib/A, weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula
(Schrad.) Nees) and corn at 50 Ib/A. On the median area near Stapleton,
'Kobe' annual lespedeza (Lespedeza striata (Thunb.) Hook, and Arn.) was
substituted for sericea and the weeping lovegrass was omitted. The Athens
-------
Table 20. Treatments Used in Experiments with Compost on Roadsides
58
Amendment
Treat-
ment
No.
1 ...
2 ...
3 ...
4 ...
5 ...
6 ...
7 ...
8 ...
9 ...
10 ...
11 ...
12 ...
13 ...
14 ...
15 ...
Type
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
None
None
None
Sawdust
Sawdust
Sawdust
Compost
None
Compost
Volume in ft.
per yd. 2 Of area
0.75
0.75
0.75
2.25
2.25
2.25
None
None
None
2.25
2.25
2.25
0.38
None
2.25
+j
Annual-rr
N topdressing
Ib/A
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Mulch
applied
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compost
None
Straw
I/ The 80-pound rate was applied in one spring application. The 400-pound
rate was applied in 5 applications of 80 lb/A each during growing season.
One ton/A of 8-8-8 applied the first year to all treatments except
No. 15 which received one ton/A of 0-8-8.
-------
59
experiment was seeded to 50 Ib./A of Kentucky-31 tall fescue and 25 Ib./A of
Emerald1 crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.).
Stand counts and ratings were used to evaluate the effects of the various
treatments on the plant establishment and growth. Soil samples were taken
from all plots at various time intervals to determine the rate and amount
of nutrient release.
The time of establishment and weather conditions varied considerably
with locations; therefore, each location is considered separately.
Battleship Parkway
The sawdust treatments were omitted from this area. The experiment was
planted June 19, and 24 days after seeding it was noted that stands were very
poor on plots receiving compost. Stand ratings made on July 29 showed that
grass species were adversely affected more than sericea lespedeza, Table 21.
The whole area was reseeded in August with 50 Ib./A of bahiagrass, 25 Ib./A.
of sericea and 5 Ib./A of weeping lovegrass. No covering of the seed or re-
mulching was done. Ratings made 15 days after reseeding showed little im-
provement in stands.
Cover and appearance ratings made in April of the second year reflected
the poor stands on areas which received compost, Table 22. However, differences
were not as great as in the preceding fall. The appearance of the plants on
the compost plots were equal or superior to plants on areas receiving no com-
post. It appeared that most of the deleterious effects from the compost
had dissipated by the second year.
Ratings made in May and September of the second season showed that the
best growth and color were found on areas which received high rates of nitrogen
regardless of the amendment used. Color or appearance of the compost plots
with no added nitrogen was superior to plots receiving either 0 or 80 Ib./A
-------
60
Table 21. Stand Ratings— on Compost Test Vegetation Planted June
19 on Battleship Park Right-of-Way, Mobile, Alabama
Treat-
ment
No.
1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
6. .
7. .
8. .
9- .
13. .
14. .
15. .
Sericea
July 29
. 6.5
. 6.5
. 6.5
. 6.0
. 7.5
. 7.0
. 7.0
. 7.5
. 8.0
. 1.0
. 7.5
. 1.0
Sept. 12
5.5
5.5
5.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
4.0
Bahia
July 29
1.5
6.0
4.0
1.0
4.0
4.0
1.0
9.5
9.5
9.5
1.0
1.0
Sept. 12
5.5
5.5
5.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
5.5
Corn
July 29
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
8.0
1.0
8.0
Sept. 12
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.5
3.5
5.0
3.5
3.5
4.5
1.0
Lovegrass
July 29
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
8.5
7.5
6.5
8.5
9.5
1.0
-'Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
61
Table 22. Cover and Appearance Ratings on Compost Test at
Battleship Park Right-of-Way, Mobile, Alabama
Cover ratingsJi/
Treat-
ment
No.
1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
6. .
7. .
8. .
9. .
13. .
14. .
15. .
8 months
after
seeding—'
. 4.5
. 3.5
. 3.0
. 2.0
. 3.5
. 3.5
. 9.5
. 6.5
. 7.5
. 5.5
. 5.0
. 6.0
13 months
after
seeding—
9.0
9.5
8.5
8.5
8.8
8.8
8.0
9.5
9.0
9.0
8.5
8.5
8 months
after
seeding
7.0
6.0
6.0
6.5
7.5
7.5
1.0
6.5
7.0
5.5
8.0
7.5
Color ratings
10 months
after
seeding
7.5
8.5
10.0
7.5
10.0
10.0
1.0
7.0
10.0
6.0
7.5
6.0
13 months
after
seeding
7.0
7.5
9.5
7.5
7.5
10.0
3.0
6.0
9.0
6.0
7.5
8.0
—' Cover ratings: 1 = less than 10% coverage; 10 = 100% coverage
—'Color ratings: 1 = lightest green; 10 = darkest green
-------
62
of N and no compost amendments. This indicated that the compost amendment
was contributing beneficial effects equal to at least an 80 Ib./A application
of nitrogen the second season after application.
By the spring of the third season there was a uniform stand of vegetation
over the whole area. The only noticeable differences were color differences
as the result of the nitrogen applications.
Stapleton
The amendments were applied and the area seeded during June. Stands,
22 days after seeding, were excellent on all areas except the compost mulch
and the no mulch treatments, Table 23. Erosion caused the poor stands or.
these areas. The no mulch plot eroded'badly in both series and the compost
mulch plot eroded in one replication but not on the other. No erosion occur-
red on any of the other treatments.
Growth was noticeably less on the plots receiving 3 inches of compost.
Some dead seedlings were noted on these plots at this time.
Stands rapidly deteriorated on all plots and 60 days after planting
the only plots having more than a 50% stand were no mulch and compost mulch
plots. The most severe reductions in stands were on plots receiving compost
as a soil amendment.
The entire area was seeded again in August with 50 Ib./A of bahiagrass
and 25 Ib./A of common bermudagrass. Ratings made 2 weeks later showed poor
stand persisting on the area receiving compost. There was little difference
in stands just prior to the first killing frost in October indicating that
the effect of compost on stands was rapidly diminishing.
Ratings of bahia stands in 5 months after replanting showed that the
best stands were on plots receiving the no mulch or compost mulch but dif-
ferences in stands were not large at this time, Table 24. Individual plant
-------
63
Table 23. Effect of Soil Amendments on Emergence of Survival of
Vegetation Summer and Fall!.' of the First Season,
U.S.-31 Near Stapleton, Alabama
9 1
Ratings of stands-
Treat-
ment
No.
1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
6. .
7. .
8. .
9. .
12. .
13. .
14. .
15. .
July
I
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
13
II
Mi/
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
6
6
10
July
I
3
3
2
1
1
1
7
6
8
7
8
6
1
II
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
9
6
1
Augus t
I
2
2
2
2
2
2
5
5
5
5
8
8
2
II
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
8
8
2
September
I
6
6
6
3
3
3
10
10
10
10
10
10
6
II
6
6
6
3
3
3
10
10
10
10
10
10
3
October
I
6
6
6
8
8
8
7
7
7
7
10-
10
6
II
6
6
6
8
8
8
3
3
3
8
10
10
8
—'Area seeded in June and reseeded in August.
—'Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand.
-------
64
Table 24. Stand and Appearance Ratings the second year After planting
on the Compost Test on U.S.-31 Near Stapleton, Alabama
Stand ratings^/
Treat-
ment
No.
1. . .
2. . .
3. . .
4' • •
5. . .
o • • •
7. . .
8. . .
9. . .
12. . .
13. . .
14. . .
15. . .
Bahia
5 mo. after
planting
. 5.0
. 6.5
. 6.5
. 7.5
. 8.5
. 8.0
. 5.0
. 6.0
. 7.0
. 8.5
. 9.5
. 10.0
. 7.0
13 mo. after
planting
6.0
6.0
3.5
5.0
6.5
3.5
'7.5
8.5
8.0
9.0
9.5
7.5
6.5
Bermuda
13 mo. after
planting
1.5
1.5
4.5
3.5
4.0
7.5
1.5
1.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
4.0
Appearance^/
ratings
13 mo. after
planting
3.5
4.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
5.0
2.5
4.0
5.0
5.0
3.0
3.0
4.5
—' Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
21
— 5 = excess growth; 3 = optimum growth for highway conditions; 1 = sparse
growth.
-------
65
counts showed no differences among any treatments in the number of plants per
unit area. Ratings made 13 months after planting showed that the treatments
did affect the composition of plants on the areas. Plots receiving high rates
of nitrogen had more bermuda as compared to bahiagrass. Also plots receiving
compost contained more bermudagrass and less bahia than those receiving
sawdust or no amendment.
The high rates of nitrogen produced excess growth for highway conditions
throughout the year. The high rates of compost without additional nitrogen
also produced excessive growth indicating beneficial effects from the compost
occurred during the second year.
There was essentially no visual difference in the response of the various
treatments during the third year. All plots had excellent stands of grass
and the only noticeable differences were from nitrogen fertilization.
Spanish Fort
This test was established and seeded in June. Ratings made 1 month
later showed extremely poor stands of sericea, bahia and corn on plots re-
ceiving compost, Table 25. Marginal to adequate stands were obtained on
all other plots. Stands of weeping lovegrass were very poor on all plots
at this time. The area was reseeded in August to all species except corn.
Stands of sericea and bahia were improved on all plots. There was no effect
at all from the compost on sericea stands in November. Stands of bahia were
reduced somewhat by the compost and lovegrass was completely eliminated on
most plots receiving compost.
Cover ratings made in April of the second season showed that stands on
compost plots were still poor at that time but not as sparse as on the sawdust
treatments, Table 26. Nitrogen applications increased cover on all plots
except the sawdust amended plots.
-------
66
Table 25. Stand Ratings the First Season After Seeding in June
and Reseeding in August on Ala.-225, Spanish Fort,
Alabama
Stand ratings!.'
Treatment Sericea
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5 .
6 .
7.
8.
9 .
10 .
11 .
12 .
13 .
14 .
15 .
July
. . 4
. . 3
. . 1
. . 1
. . 1
. . 2
. . 9
. . 9
. . 10
. . 10
. . 10
. . 10
. . 8
. . 6
. . 4
Nov.
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
1
10
10
10
7
10
Bahia
July
3
2
1
1
1
2
6
10
10
1
2
1
5
6
2
Nov.
7
7
7
7
7
7
9
10
10
5
6
6
9
5
7
Corn
July
5
3
1
1
2
2
7
8
8
3
3
5
5
3
3
Lovegrass
November
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
9
9
1
1
6
7
5
6
- Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
67
Additions of nitrogen resulted in marked differences in species compo-
sition. On compost amended plots receiving 400 Ib./A nitrogen the predominate
species was bahia; whereas, on the sawdust amended plots sericea was the main
species regardless of nitrogen rate. Areas which received high rates of
compost without added nitrogen had more bahia than any of the other no
nitrogen treatments and as much as the sawdust plots which recieved 400 Ib./A
of nitrogen. Sericea stands were generally inversely related to nitrogen
added.
Extreme erosion occurred on the unmulched plots. Compost applied as a
mulch reduced the erosion to some degree but complete control was not obtained.
Daleville
The best initial stand after seeding in July was obtained on the plots
where compost was applied as a mulch. The poorest stands were on the no
mulch plots, Table 27.
Erosion occurred on the low rate of compost and the no mulch plots.
Stands on all plots deteriorated shortly after emergence. The most dama'ge
was evident on the compost plots. The area was reseeded in August.
Excellent stands of sericea and bahia were obtained on the east series
of plots except those receiving the 3-inch layer of compost. Sericea stands
were poor on the west side. Again the adverse effect of the compost was
evident, Table 28. Bahia stands on the west side were poor on all plots re-
ceiving either sawdust or compost. No explanation can be given for the
drastic differences.in stands between the two areas. However, extreme dif-
ferences in soil were evident as in all roadside experiments.
The area was overseeded with emerald crownvetch in October and there
was an adequate stand of crownvetch on all plots by December with a tendency
-------
68
Table 26. Cover Ratings on Bahia and Sericea on the compost Test
During the Second Year on Ala.-225 Near Spanish Fort,
Alabama
Treatment Bahia
April
No.
1 5.5
2 5.0
3 5.5
4 4.5
5 3.0
6 7.0
7 3.5
8 8.5
9 9.0
10 2.0
11 3.0
12 2.0
13 6.0
14 4.0
15 6.0
Cover ratingsi/
Bahia
September
2.0
6.5
7.5
6.0
5.0
5.0
2.5
10.0
8.5
1.0
2 0
5.0
5 0
3 5
3 5
Sericea
September
9.5
7.0
5.0
5.5
3.5
6.0
5.0
2.5
4.5
10.0
9 0
8 0
2 5
1 0
Q t;
i/Cover ratings: 1 = less than 10% coverage; 10 = 100% coverage
-------
69
Table 27. Stand Ratings 9 Days After Seeding on Ala.-92
Near Daleville, Alabama
Treatment
No.
1. ...
2. ...
3. ...
4. ...
5. ...
6. ...
7. ...
8. ...
9. ...
10. . . .
11. ...
12- ...
13- ...
14- • • •
15. ...
Bahia
. . 6
6
6
. . 6
6
. . 6
. . 6
6
6
6
. . 6
• • 6
• • 10
• • 1
• • 6
Stand ratings^-' in
Sericea
4
4
4
2
2
2
6
6
6
5
5
5
10
1
3
August
Lovegrass
6
6
6
3
3
3
6
6
6
6
6
6
10
1
6
i/Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
70
Table 28. Stand Ratings 43 Days After Reseeding on Ala.-92
Near Daleville, Alabama
Stand ratings^' in October
Treat-
ment
No.
1 .
2. ...
3. ...
4. ...
5. ...
6. ...
7. ...
c.
q.
"IT.
14.
West
Sericea
. s
. 5
. 5
. 1
. 1
. 1
. 6
. fi
. . . . f>
side
Bahia
5
5
5
1
1
1
9
9
9
1
1
1
9
9
1
East
Sericea
9
9
9
6
6
6
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
6
side
Bahia
8
8
8
4
4
4
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
4
I/Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
71
toward denser stands on the compost amended plots, Table 29. Counts made in
May of the next year showed a. decrease in density of crownvetch plants on
the areas but stands were still adequate. By August of the second season
crownvetch stands were by far the best on plots receiving compost. Nitrogen
applications also stimulated growth of crownvetch even though the species is
capable of symbiotically fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere.
Stands of bahiagrass were adequate but somewhat variable on all plots
by May the second season, Table 30. Generally the best stands were on plots
receiving neither compost nor sawdust. Sericea and lovegrass stands were poor.
Sericea was most abundant on the-sawdust and compost mulch plots. Stands of
lovegrass were best on the compost mulch and no mulch plots.
By August of the second year sericea dominated the sawdust amended plots
which received little or no nitrogen, Table 31. Bahia dominated on all other
plots. Crownvetch did not survive the summer on any plots except those re-
ceiving compost. By December of the second year the entire area, regardless
of plant species or treatment, had from 70 to 100% ground cover. From this
time on there was little change in plant coverage.
Athens
Soil amendments were applied in May and the area seeded the following day.
Initial stands of fescue and crownvetch were satisfactory, Table 32. Compost
applied as a mulch tended to decrease stands of both species.
A severe drought all but eliminated fescue from the test area during the
first summer. The area was reseeded with fescue at 50 Ib./A in October and
the fescue was up to a good stand by late November.
Fescue stands were variable by April of the second year with best stands
appearing on plots receiving high nitrogen rates, Table 33. Crownvetch stands
-------
72
Table 29. Crownvetch Stand Counts and Ratings on Compost Test
on Ala.-92 Near Daleville, Alabama
Plants per ft"
Treatment
First year
December 27
Second
year
May 23
Stand ratings*:/
Second year Second year
August 13 September 10
No.
1 2.45 1.00
2 3.15 1.30
3 2.80 0.85
4 3.70 1.25
5 4.85 1.90
6 5.30 1.85
7 2.45 0.50
8 2.80 1.35
9 2.20 1.50
10 2.30 0.25
11 3.55 1.10
12 1.40 0.55
13 2.40 1.20
14 2.10 1.15
15 0.80 1.05
3.5
3.5
7.5
5.5
6.5
10.0
2.0
2.0
5.5
1.0
1.0
7.5
3.0
3.0
4.5
1.0
4.0
3.0
3.0
6.0
7.0
1.0
1.0
3.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
3.0
-'Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
73
Table 30. Stand Counts in May of the Second Year on Ala.-92 Near
Daleville, Alabama
Treatment
No.
1. . .
2. .
3. .
4. . .
5. . .
6. . .
7. . .
8. . .
9. . .
10. . .
11. . .
12. . .
13. . .
14. . .
15. . .
Bahia
. • • 11.75
. . . 5.30
. . . 6.35
. . . 5.10
. . . 5.45
. . . 4.30
. . . 8.25
. . . 8.75
. . . 11.70
. . . 3.35
. . . 2.25
. . . 7.45
. . . 13.20
. . . 9.40
. . . 5.90
Plants per ft2
Sericea
1.95
0.50
0.70
1.20
0.75
0.50
1.15
1.55
2.10
4.95
2.80
2.25
3.60
1.85
0.90
Lovegrass
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.6
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.0
0.0
7.4
1.7
0.2
-------
74
Table 31. Stand Ratings by Species on Compost Test pn Ala.-92
Near Daleville, Alabama!/
First year
Treatment
No.
1. •
2. .
3. -
4. .
5- •
6. .
7. .
8. .
9. .
10- •
11. .
12. .
13. •
14. .
15. .
December
Bahia
5.0
6.5
7.5
2.5
3.5
4.0
5.0
5.5
6.0
2.0
2.5
2.5
8.0
6.5
. 4.5
Lovegrass
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
3.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
6.5
7.5
2.0
Second
August
Bahia
5.0
5.0
10.0
6.0
6.0
10.0
2.5
2.5
9.0
1.0
3.5
10.0
3.5
3.5
5.5
Sericea
3.0
3.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
10.0
8.5
5.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
year
September
Bahia
10.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
5.0
2.0
7.0
8.0
10.0
3.0
3.0
6.0
6.0
4.0
6.0
Sericea
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
2.0
1.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
—'Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
75
Table 32. Stand Counts 26 Days After Seeding on Compost Test on U.S.
31, Athens, Alabama
2
Stand counts in plants per ft
Treatment Fescue Crownvetch
_-
1 52.8 23.6
2 60.3 27.3
3 56.9 24.0
4 58.5 22.0
5 64.1 22.2
6 59.0 21.7
7 64.0 22.4
8 50.5 26.7
9 56.0 22.2
12 53.0 27.1
13 46.0 16.8
14 51.0 20.6
15 63.0 24.4
-------
76
Table 33. Stand of Crownvetch and Fescue During the
Second Season on U.S.-31 at Athens, Alabama
Treatment
Crownvetch
Plants per ft-"*
Fes cue
Stand ratingiy
I/
1 59
2 59
3 52
4 39
5 56
6 47
7 40
8 46
9 42
12 40
13 39
14 39
15 50
1
3
4
5
6
6
4
6
8
10
5
3
3
yStand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
77
were affected by location to a large degree. No differences from the treat-
ment were noted. During the remainder of the season the only noticeable ef-
fects were from nitrogen applications and location.
Compost for Establishment of Vegetation on Beach Sand Fill
The objectives were to determine the value of composted garbage in the
establishment of several plant species on beach sand.
The test area consisted of sand and sediment pumped out of Mobile Bay
for a park area adjacent to the Battleship USS Alabama on Battleship Park-
way in Mobile. The area was extremely variable in texture with sizable areas
of sand interspersed with areas of heavy clay. The area would not support
soil tillage equipment. Auxiliary tractors had to be used in the land
preparation.
Soil tests taken prior to initiation of treatments showed the soil to
be almost devoid of available calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Potassium
content was about 30 Ib./A and the pH varied from 4.2 to 6.1.
Treatments used on this area were the same as on Roadside tests except
no sawdust treatments were included and the area was not mulched. Corn was
broadcast over the area as a companion crop.
Plant species planted were as follows: weeping lovegrass; bahiagrass;
centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.); and a mixture of bahia,
weeping lovegrass, and sericea. Seeding was completed in June. Three 6-inch
rains occurred within 90 days after seeding.
Stand ratings made in August showed good stands of all species on all
plots, Table 34. This situation continued throughout the remainder of the
growing season.
Bahiagrass became the dominant plant on the area early in the second
season. Lovegrass all but disappeared. The centipede experienced die-back
-------
78
Table 34. Stand Ratings Made 2 Months After seeding on Beach
Sand at Battleship Parkway, Mobile, Alabama
Treatment
No.
1. • •
2. . .
3. . .
4. . .
5. . .
6. . .
7. . .
8. . .
9. . .
13. . .
15. . .
Bahia
. . 9
. . 9
. . 9
8
. . 7
. . 7
. . 9
. . 8
. . 8
. . 9
. . 7
Stand ratingsJL/
Centipede
9
8
7
4
4
4
5
6
4
6
5
made in August
Lovegrass
9
6
6
10
8
8
10
9
8
5
2
Mixture
6
6
7
6
6
4
7
6
5
8
4
-Stand ratings: 1 = less than 10% stand; 10 = 100% stand
-------
79
during the winter and did not make appreciable growth during the next season
although the plants remained alive.
Appearance ratings made during the second year showed that nitrogen was
the most important factor affecting plant appearance on this area, Table 35.
By fall of the second-year plots receiving compost but no nitrogen were su-
perior to the plots receiving no compost and 80 Ib./A of nitrogen. Cover was
essentially complete by midsummer of the second year on all plots except those
receiving neither nitrogen nor compost.
Results during the third season were essentially the same as in the
second year. Excellent bahiagrass sod formed on all plots except the no
nitrogen and the no compost plots.
Effects of Compost on Available Soil Potassium and Phosphorus and on Soil pH
Soil test data obtained from samples taken on establishment tests at
four locations in southern Alabama were anlyzed statistically using locations
as replications and the duplicate sets of plots at each location as subsamples.
Prior to adding treatments all these test locations had extremely low
phosphorus and pH values, Table 36.
The extreme variability existing within each location because of the
nature of the test sites made precise evaluation difficult. However, dif-
ferences in fertility status resulting from treatment were obtained.
Available soil phosphorus was higher on plots receiving compost than
on those receiving no amendment 7 months after application, Table 37. There
o o
was no difference in phosphorus levels between the 0.75 ft0 and 2.25 ft per
yd^ compost treatments although there was a trend toward higher values for
the higher rate. The 0.38 ftj rate as a mulch was not different from the
other compost treatments or from the plots receiving no compost.
-------
80
Table 35. Color and Cover Ratings on the Compost Test on
the Sandy Areas of Battleship Park, Mobile, Alabama
Treatment
No.
1. . .
2. . .
3. . .
4. . .
5. • .
o • • •
7. • •
8. . .
9. . .
13. . .
14. . .
15. . .
Color
April
. 5.0
. 10.0
. 10.0
. 7.0
. 10.0
. 10.0
. 1.0
. 8.0
. 8.0
. 10.0
. 10.0
. 8.0
ratings1'
May
3.0
7.0
10.9
5.0
7.0
10.0
1.0
7.0
10.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
July
2.3
4.6
9.6
5.3
^6.6
8.3
1.0
3.6
10.0
4.3
3.0
6.6
2/
Cover—'
July
7.5
9.5
10.0
8.5
9.5
9.8
2.0
6.0
8.5
65.
7.0
9.5
i'Color ratings: 1 = lightest green; 10 = darkest green
o /
—Cover ratings: 1 = less than 10% coverage; 10 = 100% coverage
-------
81
Table 36. Initial Soil Test Values at Four Locations
in South Alabama
Location
Battleship p
PH
ark roadside . .5.0
Phosphorus
Lb./A
7
Potassium
Lb./A
84
Battleship park
(sand fill) ... 4.9 1 32
Staple ton 5.2 8 75
Spanish Fort 4.8 3 38
-------
Table 37. Effect of Composted Garbage on Phosphorus Soil Test Values January, 7 Months
after Treatments were Applied, at Four Locations in South Alabama
Amendment
Type
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
None
None
None
Compost
None
Compost
Volume in ft^
per yd^ of area
. . 0.75
. . 0 . 75
. . 0 . 75
. . 2.25
• • 2.25
. . 2.25
.
.
• • *•""
. . 0.38
• • """ "*™
. . 2.25
Annual
rate of
N
Ib./A Mulch
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compost
None
Straw
Available soil phosphorus—' in
BSP ROW
167.5
110
123.5
147
155
162.5
44
57
54
76.5
51.5
95
BSP
91.5
107.5
136
210.5
240
205
104
128
129
116
61
131
Stapleton
119
190
177.5
237
168
168
108
110
111
126
101.5
143
Spanish
Fort
86
177.5
132.5
46.5
122^
24
67.5
67
57
144
64
80.5
Ib/A
2 /
Average—
116 abed
146.25 ab
142.38 abc
160.25 a
171.38 a
139.88 abc
80.88 cd
90.5 bed
87.75 bed
115.63 abed
69.5 d
137.38 abc
— All treatments received 70 Ib. of phosphorus in fertiliser
21
— Averages not followed by a common letter are significantly different at the 5% level of probability
00
-------
83
Results of samples taken in November, 18 months after application, showed
generally less variation within compost treatments and a more distinct break
between compost and no compost treatments, Table 38. Again, the phosphorus
values for compost treated areas were higher than no compost areas. Available
phosphorus on the compost treated areas ranged from 120 to 140 Ib./A while
the areas receiving no compost had 54-68 Ib./A.
Results for potassium in January, 7 months after application, were similar
to those for phosphorus in that higher values were obtained on plots receiving
compost, however, a rate response was evident for potassium, Table 39. Samples
taken in November, 18 months after application, showed that the potassium was
being exhausted from the compost treated areas either by luxury consumption
or by leaching, Table 40. There was no longer a difference in amounts of
available potassium between plots receiving the low rate of compost and those
receiving no amendment. However, the high rate of compost was continuing to
show higher values than other treatments.
Soil pH was increased by compost 7 months after application regardless
of rate applied, Table 41. Eighteen months after application of treatments
differences were not as apparent, Table 42. The most obvious effect was the
lowering of pH by the nitrogen application regardless of amendment treatment.
The soil test results were averaged for the four southern Alabama ex-
periments and are given in Tables 43-45 for three sampling dates. Samples
taken in November, 30 months after treatments were applied showed that avail-
able soil phosphorus levels were generally unchanged from the previous year
indicating that an equilibrium between total phosphorus and available phos-
phorus had been established. The potassium values continued to decrease on
-------
Table 38. Effects of Composted Garbage on
After Treatments were Applied,
Amendment
Volume in ft^
Type per yd2 of area
Compost . . 0.75
Compost . . 0.75
Compost . . 0.75
Compost . . 2.25
Compost • . 2.25
Compost • • 2.25
None ... —
None ... —
None ... —
Compost . . 0.38
None ... —
Compost . . 2.25
Annual
rate of
N
Ib./A Mulch
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compos t
None
Straw
Phosphorus Soil Test Values November, 18 Months
at Four Locations in south Alabama
Available Soil Phosphorus^/ in Ib/A
BSP ROW
131.5
128
116
156
176
157.5
42.5
41
43
57
50
165.5
BSP
83.5
98.5
115
150
200
156
63.5
52
119
80
84
125.5
Staple ton
172
150
147.5
177.5
174.5
168
82.5
88.5
51
95.5
94.5
190
Spanish
Fort
91.5
109
75.5
35
47
71.5
32.5
32.5
42.5
15.5
42.5
23
Average^/
119.63 a
121.38 a
113.5 a
129.63 a
149.38 a
138.25 a
55.25 b
53.5 b
63.88 b
62 b
67.75 b
126 a
-i'All treatments received 70 Ib. of phosphorus in fertilizer
— Averages not followed by a common letter are significantly different at the 5% level of probability
oo
-------
Table 39. Effects of Composted Garbage on Potassium Soil Test values January, 7 Months
After Treatments were Applied, at Four Locations in South Alabama
Type
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
None
None
None
Compost
None .
Compost
Amendment
Volume in ft
0
per yd of area
. . 0.75
. . 0 . 75
. . 0 . 75
. . 2.25
. . 2.25
. . 2.25
.
. .
. . ^"™
. . 0.38
• • "~*~
. . 2.25
Annual
rate of
N
1WA
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Available Soil Potass iumi' in lb./A
Mulch
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compost
None
Straw
BSP ROW
170
129.5
146
203.5
215
231
80
66
73
113
100
258.5
BSP
39
41
42
73.5
90
66
49
51
58
49.5
41
89
Stapleton
154
158
158
220.5
236
283.5
99.5
92.5
124
116
87.5
241.5
Spanish
Fort
107
77.5
170
258
304
289
37.5
32
64
92.5
50
323
Average—'
117.5 be
101.5 bed
129 b
188.88 a
211.25 a
217.38 a
66.5 cd
60.38 d
79.75 bed
92.75 bed
69.63 cd
228 a
— All treatments received 132 Ib. of potassium in fertilizer
—/Averages not followed by a common letter are significantly different at the 5% level of probability
oo
Ul
-------
Table 40. The Effects of Composted Garbage on Potassium Soil Test Values in November, 18 Months
A.CJ T * ^ - - « i • •> . — - - - " - ' •••'
Amendment
Annual
o rate o
Volume in ft N
0
Type per yd^ of area Ib . /A
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost .
Compost .
None . . .
None
None
Compost
None
Compost
0.75
0.75
0.75
2.25
2.25
2.25
—
—
—
0.38
—
2.25
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
f
Mulch
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compos t
None
Straw
Available soil potassiumi/ in ltx/A
BSP ROW
140
164
152
206
256
228
88
77
86
138
160
239
BSP
56
66
55
79
96
74
102
108
102
64
70
102
Stapleton
122
130
124
208
169
180
94
80
74
102
94
197
Spanish
Fort
105
122
188
226
246
218
61
55
52
98
101
188
21
Average—
108 c
121 c
130 be
180 a
192 a
175 ab
86 c
80 c
79 c
101 c
106 c
181 a
— All treatments received 70 Ib. of potassium in fertilizer
2 /
— Averages not followed by a common letter are significantly different at the 5% level of probability
CO
O-.
-------
Table 41. Effect of Composted Garbage on Soil pH in January, 7 Months After Treatments
were Applied, at Four Locations in South Alabama
Amendment
Type
Compost .
Compost .
Compost .
Compost .
Compost .
Compost .
None .
None .
None .
Compost .
None .
Compost .
Volume in ft^
o
per yd of area
0.75
0.75
0.75
2.25
2.25
2.25
• ^«"«
• "—
• ™*^
0.38
• ^«—
2.25
Annual
rate of
N
lb./A
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Mulch
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compost
None
Straw
BSP ROW
6.9
6.9
6.9
7.3
7.4
7.2
6.7
6.2
6.2
6.3
5.8
7.2
BSP
7.4
7.5
7.7
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.5
7.1
7.5
7.0
6.8
7.3
Soil test pH
Stapleton
7.4
-7.5
7.7
7.5
7.4
7.6
7.4
7.2
7.4
7.5
7.3
7.6
values
Spanish
Fort
7.6
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.5
7.0
7.1
7.2
7.0
7.0
7.5
Averagei/
7.3 ab
7.4 a
7.5 a
7.5 a
7.5 a
7.5 a
7.2 be
6.9 de
7.1 cd
7.0 de
6.7 e
7.4 a
—/Averages not followed by a common letter are significantly different at the 5% level of probability.
00
-------
Table 42. Effect of composted garbage on Soil pH in November, 18 Months After Treatments
were Applied, at Four South Alabama Locations
Amendment
Annual
TT -, ^ ^ rate o:
Volume in ft-3 w
?
Type per yd^ of area Ib./A
Compost .
Compost .
Compost .
Compost •
Compost .
Compost .
None .
None . • .
None .
Compost .
None .
Compost .
0.75
0.75
0.75
2.25
2.25
2.25
—
—
—
0.38
—
2.25
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
£
Mulch
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compos t
None
Straw
Soil test ph values
BSP ROW
6.5
6.8
6.5
7.1
7.25
7.05
6.55
6.1
5.65
6.05
5.65
6.95
BSP
7.5
7.55
7.5
7.7
7.65
7.65
7.8
7.55
7.15
7.45
7.05
7.25
Stapleton
7.5
7.45
7.4
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.25
7.2
7.35
7.35
7.6
Spanish
Fort
7.25
7.4
7.2
7.5
7.55
7.35
6.7
6.8
6.95
7.3
6.9
7.35
A ve ra ge— '
7.23 bed
7.30 abc
7.15 cde
7.45 ab
7.49 a
7.39 abc
7.09 de
6.92 ef
6.74 f
7.08 de
6.74 f
7.29 abed
— Averages not followed by a common letter are significantly different at the 5% level of probability.
oo
CD
-------
89
Table 43. Effects of Composted Garbage on Phosphorus Soil Test
Values at 3 Dates After Application of Compost in June
Amendment
Type
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
None
None
None
Compost
None
Compost
Q
Volume in ft
0
per yd of area
. . 0.75
. .0.75
• • 0.75
• • 2.25
• • 2.25
• • 2.25
• • — — •
.
• * — —
• • 0.38
.
• • 2.25
Annual
rate of
N
lb./A
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Mulch
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compost
None
Straw
Available
after
7 months
116
147
142
160
171
140
81
91
88
116
70
137
soil phosphorus ' in lb./A
after
18 months
120
121
114
130
149
138
55
54
64
62
68
126
after
30 months
99
124
129
148
150
145
57
49
74
81
63
131
— All treatments received 70 Ib. of phosphorus in fertilizer.
-------
90
Table 44. Effects of composted Garbage on potassium soil Test
Values at 3 Dates After Application of Compost in June
Amendment
Type
Compost
Compost .
Compost .
Compost .
Compost •
Compost .
None
None
None
Compost
None
Compost
o
Volume in ft
o
per yd of area
• .0.75
. . 0.75
. . 0.75
. . 2.25
. . 2.25
. . 2.25
.
.
.
• -0.38
.
• • 2.25
Annual
rate of
N
Ib./A
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Available soil potass iumi/
in lb./A
Mulch
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compost
None
Straw
after
7 months
lie
102
129
189
211
217
67
60
80
93
70
228
after
18 months
108
120
130
180
192
175
86
80
78
100
106
181
after
30 months
87
97
98
123
133
116
78
71
75
102
90
130
-All treatments received 132 lb. of potassium in fertilizer.
-------
91
Table 45. Effects of Composted Garbage on Soil pH Values at
3 Dates After Application of Amendments in June
Type
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
Compost
None •
None •
None •
Compost
None .
Compost
Amendment
Volume
2
per yd
. . . 0.
. . . 0.
. 0.
. . . 2.
. . . 2.
. . . 2.
.
.
.
• • . 0.
.
. . . 2.
in ft3
of area
75
75
75
25
25
25
-
-
-
38
-
25
Annual
rate of
N
Ib./A
0
80
400
0
80
400
0
80
400
80
80
0
Mulch
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Straw
Compost
None
Straw
Soil
after
7 months
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
7
6
6
7
.3
.4
.4
.5
.5
.5
.1
.9
.1
.9
.7
.4
tes
t pH values
after
18 months
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
7
6
7
.2
.3
.2
.5
.5
.4
.1
.9
.7
.1
.7
.3
after
30 months
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
7
.1
.1
.0
.2
.3
.1
.8
.5
.1
.8-
.6
.4
-------
92
all plots as would be expected with a soluble cation under conditions favoring
large leaching losses. Soil pH showed a continued decrease with the greatest
decline on plots receiving the. highest rates of nitrogen. At the last samp-
ling date the effects of compost on pH were more apparent than at prior
sampling dates. Plots receiving compost maintained the soil pH at 7.0 or
above whereas with no compost the pH ranged from 6.1 to 6.8 depending on
the rate of nitrogen applied during the 3-year period.
The general conclusions that can be drawn from the soils data are that
the 0.75 ft and 2.25 ft^ rates of compost per yd^ of soil surface incorpora-
ted into the soil increased pH and available soil phosphorus and potassium
values for at least 30 months after application.
Growth and Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemums Grown in Garbage Compost
Amended Media
Most garbage compost materials contain considerable amounts of metals
such as: calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, aluminum, sodium,
boron, chromium, vanadium, arsenic, and molybdenum. Many of the heavy metals
found in garbage compost are toxic to plants in minute quantities. Toxicity
symptoms observed on plants may be the result of concentration of one or
more of these elements in plant tissues. To investigate this possibility,
foliar analysis experiments were conducted on chrysanthemums grown in
garbage compost-amended soils.
Experiments compared original compost with Mobile Aid and other materials
as a soil amendment for chrysanthemums. The two compost materials used had
the following analyses:
-------
93
Compost Soluble salts(mhos) pH Elements (ppm Spurway)
N. Z K Ca_
Original ... 30-86 8.4 0-5 0-1 20-40 100-150
Mobile Aid ... 70 -195 8.5 0-2 0-1 20-40 100-300
Twelve potting mixtures were formulated from the two garbage composts,
Table 46. The pH of the mixtures was adjusted to 6.0 using dolomitic lime-
stone or fine sulfur. Gypsum was added to mixtures where the pH was adjusted
with sulfur. Superphosphate was added to all mixtures at the rate of 1.6 kg
o
per 1m of rooting media. Plants were fertilized every two weeks by watering
with a solution containing 3 g of 25-10-10 fertilizer per liter of water.
Rooted cuttings of two cultivars of chrysanthemums (chrysanthemum mori-
folium Ramat.), 'Giant No. 4 Indianapolis White' and 'Giant No. 4 Indianapolis
Yellow', were planted into two greenhouse benches containing 12 randomized
plots each. Planting was done on June 5. The plants were pinched on June 19
and short day treatment was started on July 12.
Growth data consisted of the weight and length of the flowering stems
cut at the pinch. Twenty flowering stems were selected at random for these
determinations and measurement of flower diameters. Leaf samples were col-
lected for chemical analysis approximately 4 weeks prior to flowering. Leaf
samples were composed of the uppermost mature leaves (usually 7th or 8th leaf
below the stem tips). A composite sample, representing each treatment, was
prepared from the two cultivars. Spectrographic analyses for phosphorus, po-
tassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, boron, and
aluminum; and micro-Kjedahl analysis for nitrogen were performed.
Most plants were in flower by September 11. Plants grown in media amended
with either compost exhibited a marginal burn on their older leaves. Plants
-------
94
grown in peat-amended soils did not show any injury. Table 46 presents the
growth data of the plants grown in the various media. The length of the
flowering stem ranged from 84 cm (soil, perlite, and peat) to 65 cm (soil and
Mobile Aid). Plants grown in peat-amended media (81 cm) averaged longer
flowering stems than plants grown in original compost (78 cm) and Mobile Aid
compost (73 cm) amended media.
Table 46. Growth Comparison of Cut Chrysanthemums Grown
in Several Media
Media
Soil and original compost 1:1
Soil and Mobile Aid 1:1
Soil, peat and original compost
2:1:1 ......
Soil, peat and Mobile Aid 2:1:1 .
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1
Soil, perlite and original compost
1:1:1 ....
Soil, perlite and Mobile Aid 1:1:1 .
Soil, perlite, peat and original
compost 2:2:1:1
Soil, perlite, peat and Mobile
Aid 2:2:1:1
Stem
length
cm
81.0
71.1
65.0
79.8
78.0
82.6
81.0
70.1
80.0
78 5
Stem
weight
g
90.4
70.5
62.0
75 0
72.5
83.2
77.0
67.0
80.8
7fi Q
Flower
diameter
cm
13.0
12.2
11.9
11 9
12.4
11.9
11.9
12.2
12.2
197
The mean weight of flowering stems of plants grown in peat-amended media
(8.15 g) exceeded the mean stem weight of plants grown in media amended with
original compost (75.8 g) and Mobile Aid compost (69.6 g). Plants grown in
soil and Mobile Aid (62.0 g) had the smallest stem weight, and plants grown
-------
95
in soil and peat (90.4 g) had the largest stem weight.
Large differences in flower diameter were not apparent in plants grown in
peat (12.2 cm), original compost (12.2 cm), and Mobile Aid (12.4 cm) amended
media. Soil and peat (13.0 cm) produced the largest flowers. Most of the
media yielded flower diameters approximately equal to the experiment mean (12.2 cm)
The foliar analysis of the plants is presented in Table 47. Plants grown in
soil and original compost had the highest nitrogen level (5.20%). Kofranek* has
stated that the critical nitrogen level for chrysanthemums is 4.5%. With the
exception of plants grown in soil and original compost, all the plants had
nitrogen levels below Kofranek1s critical value. Phosphorus levels exceeded
the optimum range in all plants. Plant potassium and calcium levels equalled
or exceeded the optimum range in all media. Plants grown in soil and original
compost (.22%), soil and Mobile Aid (.21%), peat, soil, and Mobile Aid (.31%),
soil perlite, and Mobile Aid (.23%) and soil, perlite, peat, and Mobile Aid
(.31%) had magnesium levels below the optimum but above the critical range.
Soil and peat (.68%) and soil, perlite, and peat (.43%) exceeded the optimum
range for magnesium. Sodium levels ranged from 770 ppm (soil, peat, and orig-
inal compost) to 446 ppm (soil, peat, and Mobile Aid). Optimum and critical
ranges were not available for sodium. Zinc levels were approximately 6 to 12
times the optimum range. It was not known if these zinc levels approached tox-
icity levels. Manganese reached a high of 1,116 ppm in soil, perlite, and
compost. Toxicity from manganese has been observed in California at 800 ppm on
the cultivars 'Good News' and 'Detroit News' and at 1,700 ppm on the cultivar
'Albatross'. The levels of iron were below the optimum range in all the plants;
*0ptimum and critical range supplied through courtesy of Dr. J. W. Boodley and
are based on research conducted by Dr. J. W. Boodley of Cornell University
and Dr. Anton Kofranek of the University of California at Davis.
-------
96
Table 47. Foliar Analysis of Cut Chrysanthemum Grown in Peat-,
Original Compost and Mobile Aid Compost Amended Media
Per cent by weight
Concentration in
Media
K
Ca Mg Na Zn Mn Fe Cu B Al
Soil and peat 1:1 .. 4.02 .88 5.43 1.94 .68 660 320 708 226 12 87 332
Soil and original
compost 1:1 5.20 .62 6.60 2.02 .22
Soil and Mobile
Aid 1:1 ... 4.04 .53 7.00 1.94 .21
Soil, peat and original
compost 2:1:1 . 4.12 .69 6.20 2.36 .46
Soil, peat and
Mobile Aid 2:1:1 . 4.04 .56 7.28 2.02 .31
550 494 900 226 36 179 338
510 402 826 194 28 236 290
770 452 576 186 24 114 302
446 384 396 146 29 157 236
Soil, perlite and
peat 1:1:1 3.94 .84 6.60
1.80 .43 580 350 570 290 24 135 344
Soil, perlite and original
compost 1:1:1 .. 3.58 .75 6.00 2.29 .38
Soil, perlite and
Mobile Aid 1:1:1 .. 4.08 .71 6.60 1.83 .23
610 558 773 202 34 129 308
610 597 1116 210 34 230 320
Soil, perlite, peat, and
original compost
2:2:1:1 3.94 .75 5.70
2.13 .40 490 294 564 170 22 113 228
Soil, perlite, peat and
Mobile Aid 2:2:1:1 4.02 .65 6.94 1.98 .31
Optimum range!/ 5.0- .27-40 4.5- 1.0- .35-
6.0 6.5 2.0 .65
Critical range 4.5 .20 3.5 0.5 .14
490 303 702 162 24 152 220
? 2Q- 250- 500- 50- ?
25-75
50 500 1000 100-
? 200 125 25 25 ?
A/Optimum and critical range supplied through courtesy of Dr. J. W. Boodley and are
based on. research .conducted by Dr. J. W. Boodley of Cornell University and Dr.
Anton Kofranek of the University of California at Davis.
however, all the plants except those grown in soil and peat, had iron levels
above the critical range. Copper levels were below the optimum and critical
ranges in plants grown in soil and peat; soil, peat, and original compost; soil,
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97
perlite, and peat; soil perlite, peat, and original compost; and soil, perlite,
peat, and Mobile Aid. Boron levels in the plants exceeded the optimum and
critical ranges in all media. Indianapolis cultivars of chrysanthemum have
been reported to be quite sensitive to boron toxicity (personal communication
William J. Skou, Yoder Brothers, Barberton, Ohio). The aluminum content of
the plants ranged from 106 ppm (soil and peat) to 382 ppm (soil, perlite, and
peat). The status of aluminum in chrysanthemum nutrition has not been determined.
The above results showed the foliar analysis of 'Indianapolis' cultivars
of chrysanthemums grown in media amended with composted garbage. High levels
of boron, calcium, potassium, zinc, and manganese were observed in plants
grown in soil amended with these composts. Although 'Indianapolis' cultivars
are probably the most widely grown cut chrysanthemums, optimum and critical
nutrient levels for chrysanthemums have been based in the main on two cultivars,
'Albatross' and 'Good News'. In addition, these cultivars differ in their
optimum and critical levels for certain elements. To better access the nutrient
status of cut chrysanthemums grown in media amended with compost, an experiment
was conducted using the cultivars 'Albatross' and 'CF 2 Good News'.
Rooted cuttings of the two cultivars were planted in two greenhouse
benches on July 29. The benches were divided into four replications consisting
of six treatments per replication. The treatment plots were subdivided for
cultivars. Treatments are given in Table 48. The pH of each media was adjusted
to 6.0 using either dolomitic limestone or sulfur. Gypsum was added to the
o
sulfur adjusted media at the rate of 0.8 kg per 1 m . Superphosphate was added
Q
to all the media at the rate of 1.6 kg per 1 m . Fertilization consisted of
watering with a solution containing 200 ppm each of N, P, and K. The plants
were pinched on August 12 and short day treatment was started on September 2.
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98
Table 48. Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemum cv. 'Albatross',
Grown in Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media
Per cent by weight Concentration in
Media N P K Ca Mg Na Z Mn Fe Cu B Al
Soil and peat 1:1 . 5.52 .68 5.28 .78 .32 346 76 252 102 42 114 156
Soil and compost
1:1 4.96 .50 7.42 1.07 .17 1403147 271 110 52 202 272
Soil, peat and
compost 2:1:1 4.87 .51 7.89 1.12 .16 572109 264 100 48 171 197
Soil, perlite and
peat 1:1:1 5.29 .70 6.24 1.00 .32 415 66 282 106 37 161 218
Soil, perlite and
compost 1:1:1 ... 4.79 .51 7.49 1.13 .17 606 118 327 98 46 194 218
Soil, perlite, peat and
compost 2:2:1:1 . 4.70 .53 7.95 1.13 .17 436 98 297 102 44 159 199
Mean 5.02 .57 7.05 1.04 .22 629 102 279 103 45 167 210
Optimum range!/.. 5.0-6.0 .21- 4.5- 1.0- .35- ? 20- 250- 500- 25- 50- ?
.40 6.5 2.0 .65 50 500 1000 75 100 ?
Critical range 4.5 .20 3.5 0.5 ? ? 200 125 25 25 ?
—Optimum and critical ranges supplied through the courtesy of Dr. J. W._Boodley
of Cornell University and are based on research conducted by Dr. J. W. Boodley
of Cornell University and Dr. Anton Kofranek of the University of California
at Davis.
Leaf samples were collected from the two cultivars on September 9. The
uppermost mature leaves (usually the 7th or 8th leaf, below the stem tip) were
collected. The leaves were rinsed twice in distilled water and stored in
bags in a refrigerator until drying in an oven at 80°C. The dried samples were
ground with a Wiley mill using a 20-mesh screen and analyzed for nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper,
boron, and aluminum.
Plants grown in compost-amended media generally contained more potassium,
calcium, sodium, zinc, and boron than plants grown in peat-amended media,
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99
Tables 48 and 49. The levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium were
higher in plants grown in media containing peat than in compost amended media.
The nitrogen content of both cultivars exceeded the critical range; however,
some plants did not have a nitrogen content in the optimum range. The highest
nitrogen content was observed with 'Albatross' grown in soil and peat. The
lowest nitrogen content was found where 'CF 2 Good News' was grown in soil,
peat, and compost mixture. 'Albatross' averaged slightly higher nitrogen levels
than 'CF 2 Good News'.
Table 49. Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemum, cv. 'CF 2 Good News',
Grown in Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media
_ Per cent by weight
Media
Soil and peat 1:1.
Soil and compost
1:1
Soil, peat and
Soil, perlite and
neat 1:1:1
N
5.37
4.65
4.53
5.28
P
.75
.54
.61
.78
K Ca
6.15 1.21
8.49 1.56
8.11 1.65
6.27 1.38
Mg
.53
.29
.32
.51
Na
306
282
272
294
Zn
58
100
87
57
Concentration in ppm
Mn
341
365
315
362
Fe
100
86
94
103
Cu
37
55
43
33
B
105
179
155
109
Al
181
209
222
200
Soil, perlite and
compost 1:1:1... 4.80 .58 8.151.53 .30 276 96 356 81 41 157 193
Soil, perlite, peat and
compost 2:2:1:1. 4.66 .63 8.25 1.58 .31 292 97 380 90 39 153 234
Mean 4.88 .65 7.571.49 .38 287 83 353 92 41 143 206
Optimum range!/.. 5.0- .27- 4.5- 1.0- .35- 20- 250- 500 25-75 50-
6.0 .40 6.5 2.0 .65 ? 50 500-1000 100- ?
Critical range 4.5 .20 3.5 0.5 .14 ? ? 200 125 25 25 ?
—' Optimum and critical ranges supplied through the courtesy of Dr. J. W. Boodley
of Cornell University and are based on research conducted by Dr. J. W. Boodley
of Cornell University and Dr. Anton Kofranek of the University of California
at Davis.
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100
Phosphorus was above the optimum levels for both cultivars in all treat-
ments. Plants of ' CF 2 Good News' grown in soil, perlite, and peat had the
highest phosphorus content; whereas, 'Albatross' grown in soil and compost had
the lowest phosphorus content. 'CF 2 Good News' averaged slightly higher phos-
phorus levels than 'Albatross'.
Potassium levels xvere optimum in all treatment combinations. Some treat-
ment combinations had potassium levels greater than twice the critical level.
The highest potassium content was observed with 'CF 2 Good News' grown in soil
and compost, and the lowest potassium content was observed with 'Albatross'
grown in soil and peat. Generally, 'CF 2 Good News' plants contained more
potassium than 'Albatross' plants.
All treatments had magnesium levels below the optimum range but above the
critical level. With the exception of plants grown in soil and peat; and soil,
perlite and peat; all treatments for 'CF 2 Good News' had magnesium levels below
the optimum range but exceeding the critical level. The highest magnesium
levels occurred when 'CF 2 Good News' was grown in soil and peat. The lowest
magnesium content was observed with 'Albatross1 grown in soil, peat, and compost.
No optimum or critical levels for sodium are available for chrysanthemums.
'Albatross', grown in soil and compost had the highest sodium levels. Lowest
sodium content occurred with 'CF 2 Good News' grown in soil, peat, and compost.
The average sodium content of 'Albatross' was more than twice that of 'CF2 Good
News'.
In all treatments, the two cultivars exceeded the optimum levels for zinc.
'Albatross1, grown in soil and compost, had the highest zinc content of any treat-
ment; whereas, 'CF 2 Good News', grown in soil, perlite, and peat had the lowest
zinc content of any media.
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101
All plants had iron levels below the critical level. The highest iron
level occurred with 'Albatross' grown in soil, perlite, and peat; whereas, the
lowest concentration occurred with 'CF 2 Good News' grown in soil, perlite, and
garbage.
Levels for copper were optimum for both cultivars in all treatments.
'CF 2 Good News' plants grown in soil and garbage had the highest copper concen-
tration of the experiment. The lowest copper content occurred with 'CF 2 Good
News' grown in soil, perlite and peat. The two cultivars differed in copper
content with 'Albatross' containing more copper than 'CF 2 Good News'.
Plants in all treatments had boron levels exceeding the optimum range. The
concentration of boron in 'Albatross' grown in soil and compost was over twice
the optimum amount - the highest in the experiment. The lowest boron level in
the experiment occurred with 'CF 2 Good News' grown in soil and peat.
Optimum and critical levels for aluminum in chrysanthemum are unknown.
'Albatross1 grown in soil and compost had the highest aluminum concentration.
The lowest aluminum concentration occurred with 'Albatross' grown in soil and
peat.
Effect of Various Media Combinations of Peat and Original Compost on
the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Golden Yellow Princess Anne'
Most growers of potted chrysanthemums have a particular media which they
use in the production of their plants. Such media are usually combinations of
soil, organic, and inorganic amendments. Peat moss is the most commonly used
organic amendment and often constitutes 25 to 50 per cent of the media by
volume. Inorganic amendments are numerous but sand, perlite, vermiculite,
calcined clay, and slag are frequently used. Compost might be used as a sub-
stitute for peat moss; however, the best inorganic amendments to use with
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102
garbage compost might be quite different from the best inorganic amendment
often combined with peat moss. Furthermore, if garbage compost does contain
some toxic substance, certain inorganic amendments might absorb these substances,
The leaf injury observed on some plants might be eliminated by this absorption,
Fig. 19. Experiments were designed to determine the effects of various media
combinations of peat, slag, calcined clay and original compost on the growth of
potted chrysanthemums. Treatments are given in Table 50.
Table 50. Effect of Various Media Combinations of Peat and
Original Compost on the Height and Number of Flowers
Per Plant of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Golden
Yellow Princess Anne"
Number of flowers
Media combination Height per plant
cm
Soil and peat 1:1 28 2.9
Soil and compost 1:1 30 3.8
Soil, peat and compost 2:1:1 30 3.6
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 32 3.1
Soil, perlite and compost 1:1:1 35 3.8
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:1 .... 31 3.4
Soil, calcined clay and peat 1:1:1 32 3.2
Soil, calcined clay and compost 1:1:1 31 3.9
Soil, calcined clay, peat and compost 2:2:1:1. .29 3.6
Soil, foundry slag and peat 1:1:1 30 3.6
Soil, foundry slag and compost 1:1:1 31 3.7
Soil, foundry slag, peat and compost 2:2:1:1 . . 29 3.8
The pH of each media was adjusted as previously shown. Fertilization
consisted of 4.7 kg of 12-6-6 per 1 m^ of media incorporated prior to planting
and watering with a solution containing 200 ppm N, 80 ppm P, and 80 K. There
were five rooted cuttings of cv. 'Golden Yellow Princess Anne1 chrysanthemums
(Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) in each pot and five pots in each treatment.
Three weeks after the start of short days, the plants were sprayed with a
hormone to reduce excessive elongation. Plants were grown in a greenhouse at
a night temperature of 17°C. The first planting was made on November 15
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103
followed by the other three plantings at 2 week Intervals. The last planting
flowered on March 19-
The mean height of plants and the average number of flowers per plant were
similar for all treatments, Table 50.
Influence of Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media on the Growth of
Potted Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'
Mobile Aid compost was compared to imported German peat moss as an organic
soil amendment in production of potted chrysanthemums, (chrysanthemum morifolium
Ramat.), cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'. Five rooted cuttings were transplanted per
15 cm pot using potting mixtures shown in Table 51. The pH of each soil mix-
ture was adjusted to 6.0 using limestone or sulfur as needed. Gypsum, as a
source of calcium was added at the rate of 1.2 kg per 1 m^ and 12-6-6 ferti-
lizer at the rate of 4.7 kg per 1 m^ of media. After potting, all plants were
fertilized at each watering with a solution containing 200 ppm nitrogen, 80 ppm
phosphorus, and 80 ppm potassium.
Records on the height and number of flowers per plant were taken at
flowering on 40 plants per treatment.
A mixture of soil, perlite, and peat produced the tallest plants (28.4 cm),
Table 51. The shortest plants were produced in soil, perlite, and Mobile Aid
(19.3 cm). Mixtures amended with peat moss produced a greater mean height
(25.1 cm) than mixtures amended with processed garbage (20.0 cm), (Fig. 20).
The greatest mean number of flowers per plant was produced by plants
grown in soil and Mobile Aid (4.2). Plants grown in soil, perlite and peat,
and soil and peat had the fewest flowers per plant (3.3 and 3.4, respectively).
Plants grown in Mobile Aid amended soil (4.0) produced more flowers per plant
than those grown in peat amended soil (3.4), Fig. 20.
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104
Fig. 19. Typical marginal scorch and necrotic spots
on chrysanthemum leaves when grown in gar-
bage compost amended media.
Fig. 20. Taller chrysanthemums and fewer flowers on
peat amended than on Mobile Aid amended media.
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105
Table 51. Influence of Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended
Media on the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv.
'Yellow Mandalay'
Media
Soil and peat 1:1
Soil and Mobile Aid 1:1
Soil, peat and Mobile Aid 2:1:1
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 . .
Soil, perlite and Mobile Aid 1:1:1 .
Soil, perlite, peat and
Mobile Aid 2:1:1:2
Height
above pot rim
cm
. 21.8
20.6
. 23.6
. 28.4
19.3
. 25.4
Number of
flowers per
3.4
4.2
3.9
3.3
3.8
3.7
plant
The overall appearance of all plants was satisfactory. Plants grown in
Mobile Aid-amended media did not exhibit the pronounced lower leaf injury
often observed in experiments with original compost.
Influence of Soil Mixtures Amended with Recomposted Mobile-Aid Compost
on the Growth of Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yelbw Mandalay'
Mobile Aid compost that had been recomposted was used as a soil amendment
in the production of three crops of potted chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'
Table 52 presents the 18 mixtures. Five cuttings were placed in a 15 cm pot
for each treatment.
A constant fertility program by watering with a solution of 200 ppm
nitrogen, 80 ppm phosphorus, and 80 ppm potassium was used. An appropriate
photoperiod control program was developed for each experiment to produce a
flowering plant. Plants were grown in a lightly shaded greenhouse and at a
night temperature of 16°C. The first crop was planted on July 24, the second
on August 7 and the third on August 21.
Growth of all plants was normal. The foliar burn previously observed on
the leaf margin of plants grown in compost amended media was not evident in
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106
Table 52. Height and Number of Flowers Produced by
Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay', Grown
in 1:1 Mixtures of Soil and Mobile Aid Compost
1:1 Soil-Compost mixture-^'
o
Mobile Aid recomposted with 1.6 kg 8-8-8 fertilizer per 1 mj plus -
Number of flowers
Height per plant
cm
0.4 kg Sulfur 31.2 5.5
2.4 kg A1S04 31.5 5.6
2.4 kg FeS04 31.2 5.3
2.4 kg MgS04 31.2 5.4
2.4 kg NH4S04 30.7 5.8
0.8 kg Lime-Sulfur 31.8 5.7
0.8 kg CaS04 30.0 5.5
Mobile Aid recomposted with 1.6 kg NH4S04, 0.8 kg Ca(H2P04, 0.4 kg KC1,
0.1 kg MgS04 and 0.1 kg Nad per 1 m3 plus -
0.8 kg CaMg(C03)2 31.0 6.0
0.4 kg Sulfur 31.0 5.4
2.4 kg A1S04 30.5 6.0
2.4 kg FeS04 30.2 6.0
2.4 kg MgS04 30.0 6.0
2.4 kg NH4S04 31.0 5.6
0.8 kg Lime-Sulfur 30.5 5.5
0.8 kg CaS04 29.5 5.9
Mobile Aid recomposted with no additions at composting
Check 31.0 5.8
Check plus 0.8 kg CaS04, 1.6 kg 8-8-8,
and 0.4 kg Sulfur per 1m3 29.7 6.1
Soil and Peat plus
1.6 kg 8-8-8, 4.7 kg CaMg(C03)2, and
1.9 kg Ca(HP04)2 per 1 m3 28.7 5.2
— Mobile Aid was recomposted by moistening and mixing every 2 weeks for
12 weeks.
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107
these experiments. The soluble salts level was considerably lower in re-
composted than in unrecomposted Mobile Aid and this might explain the absence
of the injury.
The greatest differences between treatments occurred in the number of
flowers per plant, Table 52. Soil and peat moss plus additives had the least
number of flowers per plant (5.2). Plants grown in a mixture of recomposted
Mobile Aid and soil with CaSO^, 8-8-8 fertilizer and sulfur added at potting
produced the most flowers per plant (6.1). Several other treatments produced
as many as 6.0 flowers per plant. The addition of 8-8-8 fertilizer at com-
posting averaged 5.5 flowers per plant when mixed with soil and used as a
growth medium. Plants grown in 1:1 mixture of soil and Mobile Aid which had
been recomposted with NH^SO^, Ca^PO^^, KC1, MgSO^ and NaCl averaged
5.8 flowers per plant. This recomposted compost combination had a higher
nitrate level than those receiving 8-8-8. The addition of either A1SO/,
FeSO^ or CaMg^O-^^ to the former increased the number of flowers per plant
to 6.0.
Comparison of Three Compost Products as Soil Amendments on the Growth
of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'
Three commercial compost products, Mobile Aid, Cura, and Cofuna, were
evaluated as soil amendments in experiments on the growth of chrysanthemum,
cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'. Cura is a fortified municipal compost supplied by the
International Disposal Corporation, St. Petersburg, Florida. According to the
listed analysis, Cura contains 10,000 ppm nitrogen, 20,000 ppm phosphorus, and
10,000 ppm potassium. Because of the extremely high readings, a reliable
Spurway analysis could not be obtained. The material has a pH of 5.6 and a
soluble salt reading of 1,000 mhos. Cofuna is the trademark of the French
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108
Natural Hymus Company, Paris, France for a humic and biological fertilizer.
Cofuna is a vegetal waste by-product. Spurway analysis of Cofuna revealed
600-700 ppm nitrates, 50-75 ppm phosphorus, 200-250 ppm potassium and 200-400
ppm calcium. The pH was 5.4 and soluble salts read 250 mhos.
Six media were made from these amendments. The various media and the
results of Spurway analysis prior to adjustment are presented in Table 53.
All media received 1.6 kg superphosphate per 1 m3. The pH except for mixtures
containing Mobile Aid was adjusted to 6.5 with dolomitic limestone. Mobile
Aid media received no pH adjustment. Gypsum was added to all media except
Mobile Aid media at the rate of 1.4 kg per 1 m3. Mobile Aid media received
2.8 kg gypsum per 1 m3. All plants were fertilized at each watering through-
out their growth with a solution containing 200 ppm nitrogen, 80 ppm phosphorus,
and 80 ppm potassium.
Five cuttings of chrysanthemums cv. 'Yellow Mandalay', were potted in
15 cm pots with five pots being used per media. A single spray of a growth
retardant was applied to the plant 2 weeks after pinching in each crop. Data
in Table 54 are averages of three plantings. Soluble salt injury was noted
early in the growth of plants grown in Cura media. Root damage was evident
and the top of the plant was chlorotic. The plants recovered from this injury
in a few weeks following repeated watering.
The height of the plants ranged from 52.1 cm (soil and Mobile Aid) to
45.7 cm (soil and peat). The addition of Cofuna increased the height of the
plants in all media except Mobile Aid and soil.
Soil and Mobile Aid (5.7) and soil, Mobile Aid, and Cofuna (5.6) produced
the most number of flowers per plant, Table 54. Soil and peat had the least
number of flowers per plant (4.7). The addition of Cofuna increased the number
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109
of flowers produced by plants grown in soil and peat, decreased the flower
number of plants grown in soil and Mobile Aid and had no effect on the flower
number of plants grown in soil and Cura.
Table 53. Spurway Analysis, pH and Soluble Salts Reading
(1:5) of Media Amended with Various Composts
Spurway
Media
Soil and peat 1:1
Soil, peat and
Cofuna 5:4:1.
Soil and Mobile Aid 1:1
Soil, Mobile Aid and
Cofuna 5:4:1
Soil and Cura 1:1 .
Soil, Cura and
Cofuna 5:4:1
NO 3
. 2
. 25-50
. 25-50
25-50
150 +
150 +
P
5
5-10
2-5
5
5
5-10
analysis (ppm)
K
10-20
20
20
20
60-80
60-80
Ca
20
50
200
150
200
200
PH
4.0
4.3
6.9
6.6
5.7
5.7
Soluble
salts (mhos)
48
55
48
65
1000
800
Table 54. Comparison of Three Compost Products as Soil
Amendments on the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemum,
cv. 'Yellow Mandalay1
Media
Soil, Mobile Aid and Cofuna 5:4:1
Effect of Media Containing Original
Height
cm
. 45.7
49.5
, . 52.1
50.3
. . 44.5
Compost on
Number of
flowers per plant
4.7
5.1
5.7
5.6
5.1
the Growth of Chrysanthemum,
cv. 'Sunstar'
Potted chrysanthemums grown in media amended with original compost often
showed an injury on lower leaves while producing more flowers per plant than
plants grown without compost. The amount of compost used in the media of
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110
these experiments ranged from 33 to 50 per cent. The injury might be reduced
or eliminated by using smaller amounts of compost in the media; however, a
similar reduction in flower number might also be obtained. It was hoped that
the trend of increased flower number would be unaffected by a reduction in
the amount of compost in the media. Three experiments were conducted to deter-
mine the influence of media containing various amounts of original compost on
the growth of chrysanthemum (chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.), cv. 'Sunstar'.
The six media treatments are given in Table 55. The pH of each media was
adjusted to 6.5 according to lime requirement test. Dolomitic limestone or
sulfur was used for adjustment. Media not adjusted with limestone received
0.8 kg of gypsum per 1 m-^. All media received 1.6 kg of superphosphate per
1 nH. Ten 15 cm pots of each media were used in each experiment. Five ml
of 14-14-14 fertilizer was added to each 15 cm pot just prior to planting.
Five rooted cuttings were planted per pot. Plants were also fertilized at
each watering with a solution containing 200 ppm each of nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse with an approp-
riate photoperiod, pinching, and disbudding schedules.
Data on the height of the plant above the pot rim and the number of flowers
per plant were recorded at flowering. Leaf samples were collected within 2
weeks of the start of short days in each experiment. The 7th or 8th leaf from
the stem tip was sampled. A composite sample was prepared from the leaves of
the three experiments for foliar analysis.
The mean height of plants grown in equal amounts of soil and compost was
more than 3 cm less than the mean height of plants grown in soil and peat,
Table 55. Media amended with 10 to 40 per cent compost produced some of the
tallest plants in the experiment. The addition of 20 per cent or more compost
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Ill
to the media increased the number of flowers per plant. The most flowers per
plant were produced in 5:2:3 soil, peat, and compost media. Media containing
more than 30 per cent compost resulted in a slight reduction in flower number.
Table 55. Height and Number of Flowers Per Plant of Chrysanthemum,
cv. 'Sunstar' Grown in Media Containing Various Amounts
of Original Compost
Media
Soil and peat 1:1 ..
Soil, peat and compost 5:3:2 . . .
Soil, peat and compost 5:1:4 . . .
Height
cm
35 . 8
. 36.6
37.1
. . . 37.1
. 36.6
. . . . 33.0
Number flowers
per plant
4.0
4.0
4.1
4.5
4.3
4.2
Table 56 presents the foliar analysis of the composite samples. Most
of the media produced plants with elements in the optimum range unless other-
wise indicated. Nitrogen was below the critical range in plants grown in all
compost amended media except soil, peat, and compost 5:3:2. The highest nitro-
gen content occurred in plants grown in soil and peat 1:1 and soil, peat, and
compost 5:3:2. Plants grown in soil and peat 1:1 and soil and compost 1:1 con-
tained the most and least amount of phosphorus, respectively. The potassium
content of the plants was highest in soil, peat, and compost 5:4:1 and lowest
in soil and peat 1:1. Media containing more than 10 per cent compost produced
plants with critical or near critical magnesium levels. Plants grown in soil
and peat 1:1 contained the most magnesium. Sodium was 50 to 100 ppm higher in
plants grown in compost amended media than in soil and peat 1:1. Plants grown
in media containing 10 to 50 per cent compost had two to five times as much
zinc as plants grown in soil and peat 1:1. None of the media yeilded plants
-------
Table 56. Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Sunstar1 Grown in Media Containing
Various Amounts of Original Compost
Elements
% by Weight
Media
Soil and peat 1:1 ....
Soil, peat & compost
5:4:1 ...
Soil, peat & compost
5:3:2
-'•-'•*- •*•
Soil, peat & compost
S • 7 • "}
_/•<£..-> ...
Soil, peat & compost
5:1:4 ...
Soil & compost 1:1 ...
Critical range
N
4.60
4.32
4.60
4.02
4.00
4.15
4.28
5.0-
6.0
4.5
P
1.25
1.10
.98
.91
.90
.72
.98
.27-
.40
.20
K
4.97
5.80
5.18
5.22
5.20
5.60
5.33
4.5-
6.5
3.5
Ca
2.02
2.16
2.29
2.50
2.74
3.15
2.48
1.0-
2.0
0.5
Mg
.77
.60
.34
.35
.33
.35
.46
.35-
.65
.14
Na Zn
1140 67
1200 122
1090 197
1170 208
1240 254
1200 320
1173 195
? 20-
50
1 i
Concentration in ppm
Mn
216
288
390
366
486
390
356
250-
500
200
Fe
130
130
122
146
130
146
134
500-
1000
125
Cu
17
19
18
18
20
23
19
25-
15
25
B
57
53
67
63
76
76
65
50-
100
25
Al
278
344
220
382
208
450
314
?
9
— Optimum and critical ranges are supplied through the courtesy of Dr. J. W. Boodley of Cornell University
and are based on research conducted by Dr. J. W. Boodley of Cornell University and Dr. Aton Kofranek of
the University of California at Davis.
-------
113
with iron in the optimum range. The copper content of the plants from all
media was below the critical range. Plants grown in soil and peat 1:1, and
soil and compost 1:1 had the lowest and highest copper content, respectively.
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the Growth
of Easter Lilies
Easter Lilies (Lilium longiflorium Thumb.), a crop which is usually grown
at a high pH, were grown in various soil mixtures amended with compost. Pre-
cooled bulbs of Easter lilies, cv. 'Nellie White' and cv. 'Ace' were potted on
January 2 in the 12 soil mixtures shown in Table 57. The pH of each mixture
was adjusted to 6.5 as shown above for chrysanthemums. Mixtures adjusted with
sulfur (soil and compost; soil, perlite, and compost; soil, compost, and
foundry slag; and soil, compost, peat, and foundry slag) were amended with
gypsum at the rate of 0.8 kg per 1 m^. Fertilization consisted of 4.7 kg of
12-6-6 fertilizer per 1 nH of media plus watering with a solution containing
200 ppm nitrogen, 80 ppm phosphorus and 80 ppm potassium. A Spurway analysis
of the mixtures was taken one month after potting and revealed that nitrates
were 5-25 ppm for all mixtures except soil, perlite, and peat (2 ppm). In
all mixtures the phosphorus levels were 5 ppm and potassium ranged from 5 to
10 ppm. Calcium was 100 ppm or above except in soil and peat, and soil, perlite,
and peat. Two months after potting, nitrates were low (0-10 ppm) in all mix-
tures except soil and peat, and soil, peat, compost, and foundry slag. Phos-
phorus had dropped to 2 ppm in soil, perlite and compost; and soil, compost,
and foundry slag. Potassium was adequate (25 ppm) in soil and compost; soil,
perlite, and peat; and soil, compost, and foundry slag. Calcium was adequate
(100-150 ppm) in soil and compost; soil, perlite, and compost; and soil, -com-
post, and foundry slag. Following each soil test the fertility was adjusted
to a range considered adequate.
-------
114
Fifteen pots of each of the cultivars were used in the 12 media treat-
ments. The heights and numbers of flowers per plant were determined on the
first 10 plants to flower.
Soil media was found to influence plant height, Table 57. The greatest
mean height (41.9 cm) was produced when the lilies were grown in soil and
compost. The shortest mean heights were produced by plants grown in soil,
calcined clay, peat, and compost (33.9 cm), and soil, calcined clay, and
compost (34.0 cm). 'Ace' produced the tallest plants when grown in soil and
compost (50.5 cm) and the shortest plants when grown in soil, calcined clay,
peat, and compost (35.3 cm). The tallest and shortest plants for 'Nellie
White' were grown in soil and peat (34.8 cm) and soil, calcined clay, and
compost (30.0 cm), respectively. Considering the various media combinations,
soil and either or both of the organic materials (38.8 cm) and soil, perlite
and peat, compost or both (38.9 cm) produced the tallest plants. The combi-
nation of soil, calcined clay, and organic amendment produced the shortest
plants (35.4 cm); however, soil, foundry slag, and organic amendment averaged
approximately the same height (36.0 cm). Media containing peat produced lilies
with a mean height of 33.5 cm and media containing compost produced lilies with
a mean height of 30.0 cm.
Table 57. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on
the Mean Height of 'Ace' and 'Nellie White' Easter Lilies
Media
Soil and peat 1:1
Soil, perlite, peat, and compost 2:2:1:1 . . .
Soil, calcined clay, and peat 1:1:1 ....
Soil, calcined clay, and compost 1:1:1
Soil, calcined clay, peat, and
compost 2:2:1:1
Soil, foundry slag, and peat 1:1:1
Soil, foundry slag, and compost 1:1:1 . . . .
Soil, foundry slag, peat, and compost 2:2:1:1
'Ace'
cm
43 0
50.5
39.5
45.0
48.3
44.0
43.8
38.0
35.3
41.3
37.8
37.6
'Nellie
White'
cm
34 8
33.3
31.5
31. 8
31.3
32.8
33.0
30.0
32.5
33.3
33.3
32.5
Mean
cm
38.9
41.9
35.5
38.4
39.8
38.4
38.4
34.0
33.9
37.3
35.6
35.1
-------
115
The mean number of flowers per plant ranged from 6.0 ('Ace' grown in soil,
perlite, and compost) to 3.3 ('Nellie White1 grown in soil, foundry slag, and
peat; and soil, calcined clay, and compost). Table 58. 'Ace' lilies produced
the most flowers when grown in soil, perlite, and compost (6.0) and the fewest
flowers when grown in soil, foundry slag, and compost (3.5). Flower number was
greatest for 'Nellie White' in soil and peat (4.3), and soil, calcined clay,
and peat (4.3). 'Ace' (5.1) averaged more flowers per plant than 'Nellie White1
(3.9). Considering media, the highest mean number of flowers occurred where
plants were grown in soil, calcined clay, and peat (5.3). Soil, foundry slag,
and compost yielded the fewest flowers per plant (3.5).
Table 58. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended
Media on the Mean Number of Flowers per Plant of
'Ace' and 'Nellie White' Easter Lilies
Media
Soil peat and compost 2:1:1 ......
Soil perlite and compost 1:1:1 .....
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:1
Soil, calcined clay and peat 1:1:1
Soil, calcined clay and compost 1:1:1
Soil, calcined clay, peat and compost 2:3:1:1
cim* 1 f r> i m H TV
-------
116
on April 24 with mixtures as shown in Table 59: (1) soil and peat 1:1; (2)
soil and compost 1:1; (3) soil, peat, and compost 2:1:1; (4) soil, perlite,
and peat 1:1:1; (5) soil, perlite, and compost 1:1:1; (6) soil, perlite, peat,
and compost 2:2:1:1. The pH of the mixtures was adjusted to 6.0 and fertilizer
applied as shown previously for Easter lilies. Iron chelate at the rate of
1.5 mg per 1 1 of solutbn was added once to the water applied to one-half the
pots in each treatment. Plants were grown one plant per 15 cm pot and each
treatment contained four pots. The greenhouse was lightly shaded and cooled
to 21°C during the day. On July 10 the dry weight was determined on two of
the plants in each treatment.
Plant dry weight was greatest when the plants were grown in either soil,
perlite, and peat or soil, perlite, peat, and compost, Table 59. Plants grown
in soil and compost yielded the least dry weight (15.7 g). Considering the
organic amendments, plants grown in peat-amended soils (20.9 g) produced more
dry weight than plants grown in compost-amended soil (16.6 g) . 'Eleanor' had
the greatest plant dry weight (23.5 g) and 'Dark Red Irene' had the least
(13.5 g). The single application of iron chelate increased the plant dry
weight of geraniums in all media. Plants which received iron chelate averaged
19.6 g whereas plants which did not receive chelate had a mean of 18.2 g. It
Table 59. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media
on the Mean Dry Weight of Four Geranium Cultivars
Media
Soil and compost 1:1 .
Soil, peat and compost 2:J
Soil, perlite and peat 1;]
Soil, perlite and compost
Soil, perlite, peat and
compost 2:2:1:1. .
'Blaze'
g
19 0
. . 14.5
L:l . . 17.3
L:l .. 21.5
1:1:1.17.3
, 20 . 8
'Dark Red
Irene'
g
168
11.2
14.5
16.4
11.2
12.9
Cultivars
'Eleanor'
g
0 f\ ^
20.9
19.8
26.0
22.1
27.5
'White
Cloud'
g
no
16.3
18.1
21.1
19.4
23.9
Mean
g
Of) /,
15.7
17.4
21.3
17.5
21.3
-------
117
was not determined whether the effect of the chelate was a result of the ap-
plication of iron, a reduction in pH, or both. Symptoms of iron chlorosis had
been observed in preliminary tests on other plants.
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the Growth
of Gloxinia
Seedlings of Gloxinias (Sinningia speciosa Benth. and Hook.) cv. 'Panzer
Scarlet' and cv. 'Missle Series' were transplanted into 13 cm pots on March 1.
Two soil mixtures were used in transplanting: soil and peat 1:1, and soil and
original compost 1:1. Each treatment was composed of 25 pots of each cultivar.
The pH of the mixtures was adjusted to 6.0 using dolomitic limestone on the
peat-amended media and sulfur on the compost-amended media. Gypsum was added
o
to the compost-amended media at the rate of 1.4 kg per 1 m . Superphosphate
was added to the two media at the rate of 1.6 kg per 1 m^. Plants were ferti-
lized every 2 weeks with 25-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 3.1 g per liter
of water. Plants were grown in a shaded greenhouse.
Observations were made on the growth of the plants. The dry weight of
10 plants of each cultivar in each treatment was taken at flowering.
Plants of both cultivars flowered earlier when grown in the soil and
compost mixture than when grown in the soil and peat mixture. Most flowering
occurred early in July; however, some of the compost-grown plants flowered in
late June. The foliage of plants grown in the soil and compost mixture was
a lighter green than the foliage of peat-grown plants. The two most striking
differences between.plants grown in the two mixtures were leaf shape and size,
Fig. 21. Peat-grown plants had the normal oblong-ovate leaf shape; whereas,
the leaves of compost-grown plants were oblong, almost strap-like or nearly
oblanceolate. The leaves of plants grown in soil and peat were approximately
30 to 40% larger (mostly in width) than the leaves of compost-grown plants.
-------
118
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the Growth^
of Two Flowering Groups of Snapdragons
Two crops of snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus L.) were grown to study the
influence of peat and compost on their growth. The first crop consisted of
snapdragons belonging to the flowering response Group II which is recommended
for winter flowering in the South. Seedlings of the cultivars 'Jackpot1,
'Twenty Grand', and 'Sakata No. 148' were benched on January 18. The second
crop consisted of snapdragons belonging to the flowering response Group IV
which is recommended for summer flowering in the South. Seedlings of the
cultivars 'Potomac White1 and 'Potomac Pink' were benched on March 7. A
spacing of 10 x 10 cm was used on both crops. All plants were grown single
stem. The seedlings were transplanted into six media as shown in Table 60.
The pH of the media was adjusted to 6.0. Fertilization consisted of bimonthly
watering with a solution containing 3 g of 25-10-10 fertilizer per liter of
water.
At flowering, 20 plants from each media were cut at the soil line; and
from these samples, plant height, plant weight, and flower head or spike length
were determined. Five plants from each media were stripped of all foliage,
cut to 50 cm in length and weighed. A weight/height reading was thus obtained
as an index of stem strength.
Plants were the shortest (89.4 cm) when grown in soil, perlite, and peat,
Table 60. Soil, perlite, and compost produced the tallest plants (86.8 cm)
and soil, peat, and compost, (73.3 cm), and soil and compost (73.5 cm) averaged
the shortest plants for the Group II snapdragons. Soil, peat, and compost
(111.5 cm) and soil, perlite, and compost (98.3 cm) yielded the tallest and
shortest plants, respectively, for the Group IV snapdragons.
-------
119
The mean plant fresh weight ranged from 78.3 g (soil, peat, and compost)
to 48.3 g (soil and compost), Table 61. The media had little effect on fresh
weight of Group II plants. Soil, peat, and compost (112.3 g) produced Group
IV plants more than twice as heavy as plants grown in soil and compost (52.2 g) .
The greatest differences in the mean length of flower head or spike oc-
curred between soil and compost (22.9 cm), soil, perlite, and compost (22.9 cm),
soil, perlite, and peat (22.8 cm); and soil and peat (19.8 cm), Table 62.
Group II snapdragons produced the longest spikes in soil, perlite, and compost
(24.5 cm) and the shortest spikes in soil and peat (17.0 cm). In the Group IV
snapdragons, spike length was greatest in soil and compost (27.3 cm) and least
in soil, perlite, and compost (21.3 cm).
Soil, perlite, peat, and compost (.028 g/cm) yielded plants with the strong-
est stems as measured by weight/height ratio, Table 63. Plants grown in soil,
perlite, and compost (.019) had the smallest ratio. Group IV cultivars pro-
duced the largest and smallest weight/height ratios when grown in soil, perlite,
peat, and compost (.041 g/cm) and soil, perlite, and compost (.021 g/cm),
respectively.
Table 60. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended
Media on the Mean Height of Two Flowering Groups
of Snapdragons
Group Group
Media II IV Mean
cm cm cm
Soil and peat 1:1 78.3 110.3 94.3
Soil and compost 1:1 73.5 109.3 91.4
Soil, peat and compost 2:1:1 73.3 111.5 92.4
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 76.8 102.0 89.4
Soil, perlite and compost 1:1:1 86.8 98.3 92.6
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:1 . . . 82.0 113.0 97.5
-------
120
Table 61. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended
Media on the Mean Fresh Weight of Two Flowering
Groups of Snapdragons
Media
Soil perlite and peat 1:1:1
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:1 .
Group
II
g
. . 42.8
. . 44.4
. . 45.3
. .44.3
. . 46.9
. . 43.8
Group
IV
g
81.5
52.2
112.3
69.4
73.3
71.8
Mean
g
62.2
48.3
78.8
56.9
60.1
57.8
Table 62. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended
Media on the Mean Flower Head Length of Two Flowering
Groups of Snapdragons
Media
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:
Group
II
cm
17.0
. 18.5
. . . 18.0
. . . 19.0
24.5
1 . . . 22.0
Group
IV
cm
22.5
27.3
22.8
26.5
21.3
22.0
Mean
cm
19.8
22.9
20.4
22.8
22.9
22.0
Table 63. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media
on the Weight/Height Ratio of stems of Two Flowering
Groups of Snapdragons
Media
Soil and compost 1:1
Soil, peat and compost 2:1:1 .
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 .
Soil, perlite and compost 1:1:1 .
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:
Group
II
g/cm
.014
. . . .016
.016
. 016
016
1 . . . .015
Group
IV
g/cm
.030
.029
.035
.023
.041
.041
Mean
g/cm
.022
.023
.026
.020
.019
.028
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121
Growth and Foliar Analysis of Miniature Carnations in Compost-Amended Media
The optimum pH range for carnations is 5.5 to 7.0 which is higher than
the optimum for many other floricultural crops. Boron, calcium, and potassium
are nutrient elements which often require special consideration in carnation
culture. Compost might be useful in the culture of carnations since it has
a high pH and contains considerable amounts of boron, calcium, and potassium.
Miniature carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) were selected for these
experiments because they can be grown at a higher temperature than standard
carnations, thus are better suited to Southern culture. The cultivars,
'Elegance' and 'White Elegance', were selected since current nutrient level
standards for miniature carnations are based on 'Elegance' cultivars.
In one experiment media treatments were as shown in Table 64. Alive
compost is a product of the Lone Star Organic Plant, Houston, Texas. Ten
15 cm pots of each of the two 'Elegance* cultivars were planted in each media
on August 7. Plants were fertilized by watering with a solution containing
200 ppm nitrogen and 160 ppm potassium. Plants were grown in an air-conditioned
greenhouse with the temperature maintained between 16 and 21°C.
Foliar analysis samples were taken on October 10. At the time of sampling,
plants grown in Alive compost had not produced enough leaves for an adequate
sample. All the leaf tissue above the fifth node was taken for tissue analysis.
All plants had at least 7 pair of leaves at the time of sampling. The leaves
were dried in a forced draft oven at 80°C for 24 hours. When dry, the tissue
was ground in a Wiley Mill to pass through a 20-mesh screen. Analysis of the
tissue samples were made for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium,
sodium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, boron, and aluminum.
Five months after planting, the dry weight of five plants per treatment
was obtained for each cultivar. Plants were cut at the soil line, placed in
paper bags, dried in an oven at 80°C for 24 hours and then weighed.
-------
122
The growth of plants in compost was not as good as the growth of plants
in the soil, peat and perlite, Fig. 22. Plants grown in Alive compost ap-
peared stunted. The mean dry weight of plants grown in Alive compost was
7.4 g, in Mobile Aid 24.0 g, and in the soil mixture 27.1 g, Table 64.
Table 64. Mean Dry Weight of cv. 'Elegance1 and cv.
'White Elegance' Carnations Grown in Unamended
Composts and Unamended Soil Mixture
Media
Soil, peat and perlite 1:1:1
'Elegance'
g
. . 7.0
. 26.1
. . 30.8
Cultivar
'White Elegance'
8
7.7
21.9
23.4
Mean
g
7.4
24.0
27.1
Foliar analyses of plants grown in Mobile Aid and in soil, peat and perlite
are presented in Table 65. Plants grown in Mobile Aid contain more potassium,
calcium, zinc, sodium, and boron than plants grown in soil, peat and perlite.
Plants grown in a soil, peat, and perlite mixture contained more nitrogen,
phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, manganese, iron, and aluminum than plants grown
in Mobile Aid.
Table 65. Foliar Analysis of 'Elegance' Carnations Grown in
Compost and in Amended Soil Medial.'
Media
Mobile Aid
compost .
Soil, peat,
perlite .
N
3.60
and
4.22
P
.44
.79
K Ca
5.32 3.07
4.93 1.73
Mg
.62
.90
Na
318
660
Zn
835
505
Mn
72
144
Fe
74
98
Cu
15
16
B
108
46
Al
64
112
—'Figures represent means of 2 cultivars, 'Elegance' and 'White elegance'.
An experiment utilizing Mobile Aid as a soil amendment for carnation
culture in greenhouse benches was established on August 7. The media treatments
-------
123
Fig. 21. Difference in leaf size and shape of
Gloxinnias grown in peat- and original
compost-amended media.
Fig. 22. Growth of miniature carnations five months
after planting in two unamended composts
and a soil, perlite and peat media.
-------
124
were as given in Table 66. The pH of the four media was adjusted to 6.5 using
2
either dolomitic limestone or sulfur. Gypsum at the rate of 0.8 kg per 1 m
was added to the media that was adjusted with sulfur. All media received super-
phosphate at the rate of 1.6 kg per 1 m3. Fertilization consisted cf watering
with a solution containing 200 ppm nitrogen and 160 ppm potassium, Plants were
grown in an air-conditioned greenhouse with the temperature maintained between
16 and 21°C. The carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere was enriched with
a COo generator from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Treatments were randomized in blocks with three replications. The two
'Elegance' cultivars appeared in each treatment. Leaf samples were collected
64 days after planting of the rooted cuttings and prepared for spectrographic
analysis.
Early growth of plants grown in compost-amended media was retarded. Four
months after planting, both cultivars were in flower in the peat-amended soil
but were not in the compost-amended soil. The height of the plants grown in
compost-amended media was approximately 15 cm less than that of plants grown
in peat-amended soil, Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26.
More nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were found in plants
grown in peat than in compost, Table 66. Tissue of plants grown in compost-
amended media contained more calcium, sodium, manganese, copper and boron than
plants grown in peat-amended media. Plants grown in soil and peat contained
the most nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and aluminum but the least calcium of
the media treatments. More phosphorus but less sodium and boron were found
in plants grown in soil, perlite, and peat than the other media. The tissue
of plants grown in soil and compost contained more sodium and boron but less
magnesium than the other treatments.
-------
125
Fig. 23. Growth of miniature carnations in soil
and peat media 4 months after planting.
Fig. 24. Growth of miniature carnations in soil
and garbage compost media 4 months after
planting.
-------
126
Fig. 25. Growth of miniature carnations in soil,
perlite and peat media k months after
planting.
Fig. 26. Growth of miniature carnations in soil,
perlite and garbage compost media k
months after planting.
-------
127
Table 66. Foliar Analysis of Miniature Carnations Grown
in Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media—'
Per cent by
Media N
Soil and peat
1:1 . 3.90
Soil and compost
1:1 . . 3.41
Soil, perlite
and peat 1:1. 3.75
Soil, perlite and
compost 1:1 . 3.29
P
.65
.44
.69
.45
K
4.57
4.31
4.47
4.18
weight
Ca
1.34
2.12
1.45
2.31
Mg
.87
.52
.72
.59
Na
730
2622
457
1382
Concentration in
Zn
575
646
654
608
Mn
290
335
262
365
Fe
87
86
93
89
Cu
12
15
12
15
ppm
B
70
145
65
128
Al
108
88
83
89
A'Figures represent means of two cultivars, 'Elegance' and 'White Elegance'
replicated three times.
Plants grown in soil, perlite, and compost contained the most calcium but
the least nitrogen and potassium of the four media. According to standards
established by Nelson and Boodley, all plants were low in nitrogen but contained
sufficient amounts of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Effect of Various Additions and Recomposting on the Chemical Analysis
of Original Compost
Phytotoxicity was observed in plants grown in compost-amended media. The
margin of older leaves of chrysanthemums, petunias, and snapdragons appeared
burned or scorched when grown in garbage compost media. Poor leaf color,
resembling nitrogen deficiency, was often observed. Tests revealed that
original compost contained excessive soluble salts, low nitrogen and phos-
phorus and high pH. Some of the problems encountered resembled those re-
ported in saline and alkali soils.
To investigate these problems, experiments were conducted on recomposting
with various chemical additions used in garden composting or in amending
alkali soils.
-------
128
Mobile Aid compost which had been composted at the processing plant for
an estimated 12-16 weeks was mixed with various chemicals to lower the pH and
soluble salts and increase fertility. Spurway analysis of the Mobile Aid
prior to treatment revealed nitrates 0-2 ppm, phosphorus 0-1 ppm, potassium
20-40 ppm, and calcium 150-300 ppm. The compost had a pH of 8.6 and a soluble
salt reading of 70 mhos (1:5 dilution). Treatments are shown in Table 67.
Following treatment, the Mobile Aid was recomposted for 3 months. Every
2 weeks the treatments were moistened and remixed in a cement mixer. Re-
composting was conducted in wooden baskets.
Table 67- Spurway Analysis, pH and Soluble Salts of Mobile Aid
Compost 3 Months after Treatment
Spurway analysis (ppm)
Treatment
N03
1.6 kg 8-8-8 Fertilizer per m3
0.4 kg Sulfur .
2.4 kg A1S04 . . .
2.4 kg FeS04 . . .
2.4 kg MgS04 . . .
2.4 kg NH4S04 . . .
0.8 kg Lime-sulfur . .
0.8 kg CaS04 . .
1.6 kg NH4S04, 0.8 kg
per m plus -
0.8 kg CaMg(C03)2 .
0.4 kg Sulfur .
2.4 kg A1S04 . . .
2.4 kg FeS04 • . .
2.4 kg MgS04 . . .
2.4 kg NH4S04 . . .
0.8 kg Lime-sulfur.- •
0.8 kg CaS04 •
No treatment
10
. 10
. 10
5-10
10
2-5
5-10
Ca(H2P04)
. 25
10-25
10-25
. 10
. 10
10-25
5-10
10-25
P
plus -
1
1
0.5
1
1
1
1
2> °-4
1
1
1
1
1
0.5
0.5
1
K
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
kg KC1,
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
20-40
Ca
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
0.1 kg *
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
pH
7.2
8.2
8.5
8.5
8.1
8.5
8.4
lgS04 and
8.3
8.2
8.1
8.1
8.2
8.2
8.2
7.9
Soluble
salts (mhos)
34
29
31
30
29
33
34
0.1 kg NaCl
33
28
30
30
26
30
27
27
Control
2-5
0.5
20-40 200
8.6
31
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129
Nitrate levels were increased to 10-25 ppm when the fertilizer consisting
of NHgS04, Ca(H2P04)2, KC1, MgS04, and NaCl plus either CaMg(C03)2, sulfur,
A1S04 or CaS04 was added to the compost, Table 67. Combinations of 8-8-8 ferti-
lizer plus other chemicals did not raise the nitrates above 10 ppm. Recomposted
Mobile Aid, which received no chemical treatment had 2-5 ppm nitrates. Phos-
phorus and potassium were not influenced by treatment. All treatments had 200
ppm calcium. The pH of the compost resisted change. Recomposted Mobile Aid
without chemical treatment had a pH of 8.6. The greatest change in pH oc-
curred with the addition of 8-8-8 fertilizer plus sulfur which resulted in a
pH of 7.2. The NH4S04 fertilizer plus CaS04 reduced the pH to 7.9. In all
treatments, soluble salts decreased from 70 mhos to 26-34 mhos. Leaching was
probably responsible for this reduction since the unamended check had a
reading of 31 mhos. Chemical treatment had little effect on soluble salts.
Original Compost as a Mulch for Ornamentals
The use of compost as a mulch is of interest since the large quantities
of material available could be readily used in park and highway plantings.
Homeowners' use of compost mulches would probably be limited by the ap-
pearance and odor of the mulch, Fig. 27-
Most processed garbage composts have a dark brown color. Some contain
considerable amounts of film and rigid plastic which detracts from the mulch's
appearance. Glass is ground to a size that does not present a problem in
appearance or handling. The texture may be granular or fibrous depending pro-
bably on the stage of decomposition. Compost which contains sewage has an odor
even when well composted. Odor problems with sewage-free compost varies with
the raw material used, the composting method and, the length of time the
material is composted.
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130
Fig. 27. Original compost mulch showing accumulation
on surface of plastic (light shaded particles)
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131
Mulching Perennials: Garden Chrysanthemums
Hardy or garden chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) were
used to test compost as a mulch for the growth of a perennial. Rooted cut-
tings of 19 cultivars of garden chrysanthemums were potted in 8 cm peat pots
containing equal parts of soil, peat and perlite on June 21. Plants were grown
in the greenhouse until July 18, when they were transplanted outside into beds
at a spacing of 38 cm x 46 cm. Plants were fertilized in the greenhouse
each week by watering with a solution containing 1.9 g of 20-20-20 fertilizer
per liter of water. Fertilization in the beds consisted of 146 g of 8-8-8
o
fertilizer per 1 m^ prior to planting and monthly applications thereafter at
the same rate. All plants were pinched three times to increase flower number
and growth habit. Pinching was done on June 28, July 18, and August 15.
The three mulch treatments were original compost, sawdust, and pine straw.
Each bed contained one cultivar and was divided into three sections with 10 cm
aluminum lawn edging. A 2.5 cm mulch was applied to each section using the
various mulches. Comparisons were made on each cultivar in each mulch re-
garding flowering date, height and spread of plants.
The growth of the plants was excellent under all mulch treatments. Leaf
and flower color were comparable.
No large differences were noted in the flowering date, height and spread
of the plants when grown in the three mulches. Original compost, sawdust,
and pine straw mulches produced plants with mean heights of 41.5 cm, 41.3 cm,
and 39.8 cm, respectively. The spread of the plants were similar irrespective
of mulch treatment. Original compost appeared to be as satisfactory as saw-
dust or pine straw when used for mulching chrysanthemums.
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132
Mulching Annuals; Petunias
Fifty-four petunia (Petunia hybrida Vilm.) cultivars were planted in
a mulching study on annuals. The petunias were produced in the greenhouse
by sowing seed in February and transplanting to peat pots containing equal
parts of soil, peat, and perlite in March. Plants were planted in beds on
April 16.
Fertilization consisted of 146 g of 8-8-8 fertilizer per 1 m2 of surface
incorporated prior- to planting and 146 g of 12-6-6 fertilizer per 1 m2 of root-
ing bed. Each plot was divided into three sections with 10 cm aluminum lawn
edging. The mulch treatments consisted of original compost, sawdust, and
pine straw applied to the sections in each plot. Approximately 5 cm of
mulching material was applied on May 2.
No apparent differences were observed in the growth and flowering of the
petunias with any of the mulches. Leaf and flower color was comparable in all
the mulch treatments.
Mulching Woody Ornamentals on the Highway
The establishment, maintenance, and care of plants on highways has become
a problem because of the increased use of plants on the highway for esthetic
and safety reasons. Mulches can assist in this problem by conserving moisture,
reducing weeds, preventing wide fluctuations in soil temperature, and influ-
encing soil nutrition.
An experiment comparing original compost with no mulch, pecan hulls, pine
straw, turffiber, and sawdust was established on two roadside locations. Ilex
cornuta 'Burford' and Forsythia intermedia were used as test plants. The soil
w
at each site was cultivated to a depth of 15 cm prior to planting of potted
Ilex and Forsythia. The mulches were removed the second year and reapplied
with the exception of turffiber. Plants were watered immediately after planting
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133
and as needed thereafter. Fertilization consisted of a yearly application
of 30 ml of 8-8-8 fertilizer sprinkled over the drip line of each plant. Soil
moisture and temperature readings were taken May through August. Moisture
readings were made with gypsum blocks, located in the center of each mulch
treatment at a depth of 15 cm. A telethermometer was used to read the soil
temperature as measured by thermister probes located in the center of each
mulch plot.
Soil samples were taken from the plots during June of the first year to
determine the influence of the mulches on soil nutrition. Soil samples were
analyzed for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Compared to no mulch, all the mulches increased soil moisture, Table 68.
Soil mulched with pecan hulls had the highest mean per cent moisture. Lower
percentages were observed where pine straw, processed garbage, sawdust and
turffiber were used. The slope site had a higher mean moisture reading than
the flat site. The proximity of water near the slope and differences in
soil type might explain these moisture differences.
Mulching had no effect on the mean soil temperature, Table 69.
Compost mulches raised the pH of the soil almost an entire unit above
some of the other mulch treatments, Table 70. In comparison to compost, the
other mulches did not influence soil pH.
Compost mulches increased the amount of phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
and magnesium in the soil, Table 71. Sawdust mulches reduced soil phosphorus
and potassium. Pinestraw mulches resulted in the greatest reduction in soil
potassium.
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134
Table 68. Influence of Various Mulches on Per Cent Available
Moisture in the Soil at Two Highway Sitesi'
Mulch
Turffiber
Flat
%
57.4
58.5
. . . 62.6
59.6
54.4
60.8
Site
Slope
%
61.9
63.8
72.2
65.5
68.2
63.9
Mean
59.7
61.5
67.4
62.6
61.9
61.9
i/Means for readings taken weekly from July 7, 1969 to January 12, 1970.
Table 69. Influence of Various Mulches on Soil Temperature
at Two Highway Sites!./
Mulch
Check
Turffiber
Pecan hulls
Flat
F°
. . 66.7
. . . . 66.6
. . . 67.5
. . . . 67.1
. . 67.4
. . 67.3
Site
Slope
F°
68.0
68.0
68.1
67.5
69.1
67.7
Mean
F°
67.4
67.3
67.8
67.3
68.3
67.6
i/Means for weekly reading taken July 7, 1969 to January 12, 1970.
Table 70. Influence of Various Mulches on the Soil pH
at Two Highway Sites
Mulch
None
Original compost ....
Flat
. . 5.8
5.7
5 8
5 6
.... 6.6
Site
Slope
6.3
6.2
6 2
6 3
6 2
6.9
Mean
6.1
6 0
S Q
ft 1
C Q
j . y
fi.R
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Table 71. Invluence of Various Mulches on Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and magnesium
in the Soil at Two Highway Sites
Mulch
K
Ca
Mg
Slope Flat Mean Slope Flat
Mean
Slope
Flat Mean Slope Flat
Mean
None
Turffiber •
Pecan hulls
Pinestraw •
Sawdust .
Original
compost
Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A
21.4 27.8 24.6 101.1 130.0 115.6
.-20.1 26.8 23.5 189.5 116.5 103.0
. 22.1 26.4 24.3 208.8 214.3 211.6
. 21.5 27.0 24.3 85.4 104.9 95.2
. 15.9 24.1 20.0 88.5 121.9 105.2
31.5
Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A Lb./A
882.0 905.0 893.5 105.8 120.0 112.9
901.0 959.0 930.0 105.0 120.0 112.5
851.0 883.0 867.0 111.0 120.0 115.5
899.0 955.0 927.0 111.8 120.0 115.9
951.0 1022.0 986.5 102.0 120.0 111.0
33.8 32.7 230.5 216.6 223.6 1204.0 1461.5 1332.8 118.5 120.0 119.3
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136
Original Compost as a Herbicide Mulch
Original compost and sawdust were compared as mulches with and without
dichlobenil (2,6-dichlorobenzonitrite) herbicide incorporation on nursery
liner production.
Potted liners were planted during July, 1968 in soil bins which contained
9 3
125 ft. per bin. The soil in each bin was prepared by adding 6 ft. of peat
moss, 5 Ib. of 8-8-8 fertilizer and 8.5 Ib. of dolomitic limestone prior to
rototilling. Test plants included Buxus harlandi^, Rhododendron obtusum
japonicum 'Rose Banner', Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzer', Viburnum burkwoodi,
Ilex cornuta 'Matthew Yates', Juniperus conferta and Thuj a pyramidalis. Treat-
ments are given in Table 72. Herbicide was mixed with mulches in a cement
mixer prior to application.
Weed coverage was determined on November 20, 1968 and October 17, 1969.
The number of plants surviving after the experiment was first established was
determined on November 14, 1968. The soil below the treatments was tested
to determine treatment effects on soil nutrients. The soil in the plots was
sampled on June of 1969 by removing the mulch and taking random core samples
throughout the plot.
Check plots, which received no mulch or herbicide, were completely covered
with weeds 3 to 4 months after the treatments were applied in both 1968 and
1969, Table 72. The addition of dichlobenil to the mulches decreased the mean
per cent weed cover from 43 (no herbicide) to 27 (herbicide). The best weed
control was obtained in 1968 with a 2-inch compost mulch plus 6.5 Ib. per
acre of dichlobenil. A 2-inch sawdust mulch plus 5 Ib. per acre of dichlobenil
averaged the best weed control in 1969 and for the duration of the experiment..
Sawdust, without an herbicide, was quite effective in controlling weeds par-
ticularly when applied to a 2-inch depth. Herbicide mulches gave effective
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137
control of most broadleaf weeds for approximately 9 months.
Higher percentage plant loss occurred with processed garbage mulches
(28.4) than with sawdust mulches (4.4) or no mulch (8.1). Where dichlobenil
was used 18.9 per cent of the plants died, whereas 13.9 per cent died where
it was not used. The poorest plant survival was observed in plants mulched
with two inches of original plus a dichlobenil treatment, Table 73.
Original compost mulches increased phosphorus, potassium, and the pH of
the soil, Table 74. Sawdust mulches reduced the soil pH and the phosphorus,
potassium, caclium, and magnesium content.
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Talbe 73. Influence of Mulch and Herbicide Treatments on Survival of plants 4 Months After Application
Species
Buxus harlandi . . .
Rhododendron
obtusum japonicum-
Juniperus chinensi
'Pf itzer1
Viburnum
Juniperus
Thuja pyramidalis •
No
mulch
or
herb-
icide
Pet.
7.0
.0.0
.s
0.0
20 0
0 0
0 0
13.0
No mulch
plus
dichlo-
benil
Pet.
26.7
7.0
0.0
13 0
0 0
13 0
13.0
1 in.
Saw-
dust
Pet.
0.0
7.0
7.0
7 n
0 0
0 0
7.0
2 in.
Saw-
dust
Pet.
13.0
0.0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
20.0
Mulch and
1 in.
s awdus t
with
dichlo-
benil
Pet.
0.0
0.0
0 0
20 0
0 0
0 0
0.0
Herbicide!
2 in.
sawdust
with
dichlo-
benil
Pet.
7.0
0.0
7.0
13 0
7 0
0 0
7.0
/ treatment
1 in.
original
compost
with
dichlo-
benil
Pet.
66.7
13.0
0.0
40 0
0 0
7 0
13.0
2 in.
original
compost
with
dichlo-
benil
Pet.
73.3
33.3
20.0
33 3
130
0 0
13.0
1 in.
original
compost
with
dichlo-
benil
Pet.
46.7
13.0
7.0
73 3
130
0 0
20.0
2 in.
original
compost
with
dichlo-
benil
Pet.
86.7
60.0
13 0
73 3
0 0
130
46.7
Mean
Pet.
27.0
13.0
5 3
70 0
3 3
3 3
15.3
=JDichlobenil was applied at the rate of 4.5 Ib/A when applied alone, and 6.5 lb./A when applied in a mulch.
00
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139
Table 72. Influence of Mulches with and without Dichlobenil
Herbicide Incorporation on Weed Control
Treatment
No mulch; dichlobenil 4.5 Ib /A
Sawdust, 1 in.; no herbicide
Sawdust, 2 in.; no herbicide
Sawdust, 1 in.; dichlobenil 6.5 Ib/A . . .
Sawdust, 2 in.; dichlobenil 6.5 Ib/A .
Original compost, 1 in.; no herbicide
Original compost, 2 in.; no herbicide . .
Original compost, 1 in.; dichlobenil 6.5 Ib/A
Original compost, 2 in., dichlobenil 6.5 Ib/A
1968
Pet.
. 100
, . 94
23
2
30
1
. 17
. 11
. . 3
. . 0
Weed coverage
1969
Pet.
100
58
69
45
40
16
81
94
85
42
Mean
Pet.
100
76
46
24
35
9
49
53
44
21
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140
Table 74. Effect of Various Mulches on Soil pH and Nutrient Content
Mulch and
herbicide treatment
No mulch; dichlobenil 4.5 Ib. /A
Sawdust, 1 in.; no herbicide
Sawdust, 2 in. ; no herbicide . . .
Sawdust, 1 in.; dichlobenil 6.5
Sawdust, 2 in.; dichlobenil 6.5
Original compost, 1 in. ;
no herbicide
Original compost, 2 in;
no herbicide
Original compost, 1 in.;
dichlobenil 6.5 lb./A ..
Original compost, 2 in. ;
dichlobenil 6.5 IbJA. ..
Element, per/acre
pH
6.3
6.2
6.0
6.0
1WA..6.5
1WA. .6.2
6.4
6.5
6.4
6.3
P
Lb .
157.6
143.0
142.0
126.0
191.2
85.0
272.6
256.8
239.2
263.8
K
Lb .
116.0
73.4
63.0
49.6
95.4
62.8
113.2
151.0
109.6
107.4
Ca
Lb.
486.4
446.4
332.8
331.2
374.4
373.6
431.2
439 2
409 .6
436.8
Mg
Lb.
120.0
120.0
114.0
110.4
116.8
120.0
120.0
120 0
120 0
118.8
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141
Summary and Conclusions
Compost products of the Municipal Compost Plant of the City of Mobile,
Alabama were used in experiments on establishment of grasses on roadsides;
for establishment of fine turf grasses; for growth of forage grasses; for
alleviation of effects of excessive herbicide applications to soils; as a
potting media for ornamentals; and as a mulch for ornamentals. Two composts
were used. One contained a small amount of sewage, was coarsely ground and
was referred to as original compost. The second contained no sewage, was
finely ground and was marketed by the City of Mobile under the name Mobile
Aid. The nutrient composition of the two composts were similar. A large
amount of plastic was prominent in the original compost but the plastic was
not noticeable in the Mobile Aid since it was finely ground.
Conclusions from the experiments were as follows:
1. The composts were deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus when used
as a media for plant growth.
2. Plants would grow in the composts without fertilizer additions
after the composts had been kept moist for a period of 6 months
to 1 year.
3. Toxicity to plants from excessive soil applications of fluometuron
and trifluralin was markedly reduced by addition of original com-
post such that near normal crop growth was obtained within 2 years
after herbicide application.
A. Toxicity to plants from excessive soil applications of bromacil
and picloram was not alleviated by compost additions.
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142
5. High rates of nitrogen and phosphorus must be added for estab-
lishment of grasses on roadsides when large quantities of
compost were incorporated before seeding.
6. Where large quantities of composts were added for establishment
of grasses on roadsides the growth of plants was excessive the
second year after establishment as a result of release of
nutrients from the compost.
7. There were indications that compost was exceptionally effective
in controlling erosion on steep slopes. (These were observations
as no experiments were conducted on erosion).
8. Composts were not as satisfactory as peat in potting media for
ornamentals.
9. Mobile Aid compost was generally more satisfactory than original
compost for potting media.
10. Foliar analysis of carnations and chrysanthemums grown in compost-
amended media revealed high concentrations in the tissue of alu-
minum, boron, calcium, copper, manganese, potassium, sodium and
zinc.
11. Composts were as satisfactory as other materials such as pine
straw when used as a mulch for ornamentals.
\ia 600
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