PB-222 m
COMPOSTED MUNICIPAL REFUSE AS A SOIL AMENDMENT
Florida University
PREPARED FOR
Environmental Protection Agency
August 1973
Distributed By:
National Technical Information Service
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
SHEET
1. Report No.
EPA-670/2-73-063
4. Title and Subtitle
COMPOSTED MUNICIPAL REFUSE AS
A SOIL AMENDMENT
3. Recinipnt-'s Accession No.
PB-222 422
5.	Report Date
1973-issuing date
6.
7. Authorfsl
C. C. Hortenstine and D. F. Rothwell
8. Performing Organization Kept.
No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32601
10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.
11. Contract/Grant No.
EP-00250
12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research & Development
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
13. Type of Report & Period
Covered
Final
14.
15. Supplementary Notes
16. Abstracts
Processed residential refuse from four municipal composting plants was evalu-
ated as a source of plant nutrients and as a soil amendment. Indicator plants
were turnip, pearl millet, cranberry beans, tomato, and sorghum. Three of the
composts used were high in carbon and low in nitrogen,,which resulted in delayed
nitrification accompanied by poor plant growth. Total soluble salts in those
composts were relatively high and could affect seed germination. Extracts of
compost (160 g/500ml H20) greatly reduced germination in radish and turnip seed,
and extracts from 320 g compost/500ml HjO reduced germination to 0 in turnip
and radish seed and to about 40 percent in oat and millet seed. After a period
of time in the soil, compost applications above 32 metric tons/ha increased
plant yields and improved soil cation exchange capacity and water-holding capac-
ity. In laboratory studies with compost incorporated at various levels in Ar-
redondo sand, almost no nitrification occurred. When mixed with cow manure in
equal parts, compost effectively curtailed nitrification in the cow-manure al-
most 100 percent. Fungi in compost/soil mixtures increased greatly as did bac-
teria; however, bacterial numbers decreased rapidly after 4 or 5 days.
17. Key Words and Document Analysis. _J7a. Descriptors
t\	A	"
Refuse, Composts, Plant nutrition, Soils, Tomatoes, Grain sorghum
plants, Carbon, Nitrogen, Nitrification, Germination, Wastes, Fungi,
Bacteria
17b.Aldent if iers/Open-Ended Terms
Solid waste management, Municipal compost, Turnip, Brassica rapa L.,
Pearl millet, Pemnisetum typhoidem L., Cranberry bean's^ Phaseolus vul-
faris Savi, Licopersicon esculentum Mill., Sorghum vulgare Pers.,
oluble salts^ Arrendondo sand, Phytotoxic, Microbial
17c. COSATI Field/Croup 02Aj 13B
18. A vailability Statement
Release to public
FORM NTIS-35 (REV. 3-72)
19.	Security Class (This
Report)
^ UNCMfrSIFlj-p
20.	Security Class (This
Page
	UNCLASSIFIED
21. No. of Pages
22. Price
THIS FORM MAY BE REPRODUCED
USCOMM-DC 14952-P72

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REVIEW NOTICE
The SoTId Waste Research Laboratory of the
National Environmental Research Center - Cincinnati,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has reviewed
this report and approved its publication. Approval
does not signify that the contents necessarily re-
flect the views and policies of this laboratory or
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor
does mention of trade names or commercial products
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
The text of this report is reproduced by the
National Environmental Research Center - Cincinnati
in the form received from the Grantee; new prelimi-
nary pages have been supplied.
ii

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FOREWORD
Man and his environment must be protected from the
adverse effects of pesticides, radiation, noise and other
forms of pollution, and the unwise management of solid
waste. Efforts to protect the environment require a
focus that recognizes the interplay between the com-
ponents of our physical environment—air, water, and
land. The National Environmental Research Centers
provide this multidisciplinary focus through programs
engaged in
•	studies on the effects of environmental
contaminants on man and the biosphere, and
•	a search for ways to prevent contamina-
tion and to recycle valuable resources.
In an attempt to solve the problems involved in
solid waste management, this report, published by the
National Environmental Research Center - Cincinnati,
evaluates the use of processed residential refuse from
four municipal composting plants as a source of plant
nutrients and as a soil amendment.
Andrew W. Breidenbach
Director
National Environmental Research Center
iii

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ABSTRACT
Processed residential refuse from four municipal composting plants was
evaluated as a source of plant nutrients and as a soil ammendment. Indicator
plants were turnip (Brassica rapa L.), pearl millet (Pemnisetum typhoideum L.,
Rich.), cranberry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris Savi), tomato (Licopersicon
esculentum Mill.), and sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.). Three of the composts
used were high in carbon and low in nitrogen which resulted in delayed
nitrification accompanied by poor plant growth. Total soluble salts in those
composts were relatively high and could affect seed germination. Extracts of
compost (160 g/500ml H20) greatly reduced germination in radish and turnip seed
and extracts from 320 g compost/500 ml H2O reduced germination to 0 in turnip
and radish seed and to about 40 percent in oat and millet seed. After a
period of time in the soil, compost applications above 32 metric tons/ha increased
I
plant yields and improved soil cation exchange capacity and water-holding
capaci ty
In laboratory studies with compost incorporated.at various levels in
Arredondo sand, almost no nitrification occurred. When mixed with cow
manure in equal parts compost effectively curtailed nitrification in the
cow-manure almost 100 percent. Fungi in compost/soil mixtures increased
greatly as did bacteria; however, bacterial numbers decreased rapidly after
k or 5 days.
iv

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COMPOSTED MUNICIPAL REFUSE UTILIZED AS A SOIL AMENDMENT
C. C. Hortenstine and D. F. Rothwel1
INTRODUCTION
The handling, processing, and disposal of solid waste have reached such
proportions in the United States that solid waste management is one of the major
pollution problems today. The citizens of the United States discard over 200
million tons of solid waste annually (about 6 pounds/person/day). In the past,
most of this waste was burned in open dumps or deposited in mismanaged landfills.
Because of air and water pollution, more satisfactory methods must and
are being developed for solid waste disposal. Composting with efficient
machinery under sanitary conditions shows promise in helping to solve this
problem.
Composting municipal waste under controlled conditions is advantageous
from several viewpoints, i.e., (1) it makes salvaging of paper and metals
feasible, (2) it decreases air and water pollution, (3) there is no health
hazard due to fly or rodent populations, and (4) the composted material may
be utilized as a soil improving amendment. However, the history of composting
refuse in the United States shows that most such operations started optimistically
and failed dismally. Usually the cause of failures can be traced to the
instilled philosophy in municipal officials that a saleable product can be made
from a waste material. It should be recognized that the refuse comes in as a
waste product and it must leave as a waste product.
The ancient Romans recognized the value of turning under legumes for soil
enrichment. Nitrate accumulation in the soil as a result of organic matter
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decomposition was known to European agriculturists over 300 years ago. However,
it was not until late in the 19th century that the role of bacteria in nitrogen
fixation began to be understood by microbiologists. In 1886, Hellriegel and
I
Wilfarth proved that legumes fixed nitrogen in the atmosphere through the
action of nodule bacteria. Beijerinck isolated the responsible organisms
(Rhizobium) i n 1888.
The value of composting animal and plant residues for subsequent soil
applications to improve productivity has been recognized for a 100 years or
more. During the composting procedure carbon is used as an energy source by
microorganisms with release of C02 into the atmosphere. As the process
continues, plant nutrients are concentrated and made more available. Certain
conditions are essential for proper composting: (1) optimum moisture,
aeration, and temperature: (2) an adequate supply of soluble nitrogen; and (3)
a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. It is usually desirable to add nitrogen
and phosphorus in order to accelerate the decay process in compost piles.
Compost can be made from any carbonaceous material insofar as the
conditions outlined above are met. Generally, composts are prepared from
plant tissues which contain relatively low percentage of plant nutrients.
A combination of plant and animal wastes will usually yield an ideal compost,
However, animal manures are not generally available and the average gardener
must relie on chemical mixtures containing the desired nutrients.
Soil and plant scientists have studied the composting of various plant
residues and the availability of the plant nutrients contained in the finished
18
compost, and, generally, reported favorable results. Martin and Wan£|
compared, composts prepared from cornstalks, oat straw, salt-grass hay, leaves,
and cow manure. Compost prepared from cornstalks and inorganic salts was
superior in all comparisons to the other composts, and composting was complete
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in 70 days with cornstalks as compared to 110 days with other materials. Fatty
and waxy compounds were almost completely broken down in all materials composted.
Cellulose decomposition varied from 83 percent in oat straw and clover hay to
92 percent in cow manure. Hemi-cellulose decomposition varied from 66 percent
in oat straw plus chemicals to 82 percent in cow manure. Lignin changes
varied from a gain of 7 percent in cornstalks plus chemicals to a loss of 55 per
cent in leaves plus timothy hay. The composts were mixed with Penn loam
soil at the rate of 50 tons per acre and used in greenhouse experiments with
tomatoes, barley, and carrots. The composts prepared from cornstalks plus
chemicals and cow manure were superior to 1 ton per acre of 5-10-10 fertilizer
where tomato plant yields were compared. Barley responded well to residual
cow manure, oat straw plus clover hay, cornstalks plus chemicals, and oat
straw plus inorganic salts. Cornstalks and cow manure produced larger yields
in the third crop planted, carrots, as compared to the other composts.
33
In Florida, Smith and Thornton prepared composts from water hyacinths,
pine needles, and Spanish moss. In each instance, comparisons were made
between the materials alone and materials fortified with inorganic or other
organic compounds. Water hyacinths produced a superior compost and the
nitrogen was readily available. Pine needles did not compost satisfactorily
and the nitrogen was relatively unavailable. Spanish moss was not a good
material for composting. All materials produced better compost when fortified
with additional chemicals or organic materials.
2k
Pain compared mulberry leaf compost with farmyard manure in producing
mulberry leaves which served as silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)food. Mulberry leaf
compost produced equal yields of comparative nutritional value and the manure
and both materials were much more superior to the control (no soil additive)
treatment. Composted horse manure serves almost exclusively as the growth
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k
medium for commercial mushroom production; however, Block et	used a
sawdust compost to produce equal or higher yields of mushrooms (Aqarius
conpestris and Pleurotus ostreatus) as compared to yields from horse manure.
Municipal refuse is highly variable with respect to point of origin, day
2
of collection, and season of the year. According to Bell , municipal refuse
28
contained kj percent cellulose, sugar, and starches. Rogus reported that
New York refuse in 1939 contained by weight an average 43.0 percent ashes,
21.9 percent paper, 17.0 percent garbage, 6.8 percent metal, 5.5 percent glass,
2.6 percent wood, and 3.2 percent misc. In contrast, Chicago refuse in
1957 contained 51.5 percent paper, 16.7 percent ashes, 15.5 grass, 7,3 percent
metal, 6.0 percent glass, and 3.0 percent garbage. This denoted a considerable
drop in ashes and garbage with a large increase in paper. The compostabJe
materials were about kS percent in 1939 and 70 percent in 1957. However, the
increase was mainly in the form of paper which is highly carbonaceous and
almost void of nitrogen.
Composting municipal refuse has not received the attention nor popularity
in the United States that it has in Europe, the Netherlands and Germany
particularly. The compost has received wide acceptance among farmers in those
countries as it is used extensively to increase crop yields and improve soil
3k
conditions. Tietjen reviewed municipal composting in the German cities of
Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, a-d Kreuznack and cited research results which
indicated beneficial effects on water-holding capacity and erosion prevention
in soils through the use of the compost. Grape, potato, wheat, oat, rye,
and sugar beet yields were also increased where compost was applied to the
soil.
In the United States, published research results where composted municipal
10
refuse was evaluated were almost non-existent until recent years. Fuller et ak
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grew horticultural plants in the greenhouse where the growth media were soil:
compost mixtures of varying ratios and obtained growth responses to the cotapost.
9
Conover and Joiner obtained earlier flowering of chyrsanthemums by 33 to
50 percent additions of garbage compost to sand. A greater number of flowers
was also produced by plants grown in compost amended soil.
5,
The presence of phytotoxic substances in plant residues is well documented
11, 15, 16, 19, 21, 25 .	8
One of the earliest workers, Collison , described
a toxic effect from aqueous extracts of wheat straw on barley seedlings
wherein the roots were discolored, slender, and abnormally curved. The
toxin was removed entirely by boiling or filtering through a porcelain filter
and greatly reduced by suspending carbon blpck or ferric hydroxide in the
26
extract. Patrick et _al_. found substances In decomposition residues of barley,
wheat, and sudangrass that were toxic to lettuce, bean, broccoli, and tobacco
3
seed germination. Bieber and Hoveland showed that a phytotoxic substance in
water extracts of several weed species interfered with crown vetch seed germination.
22
Nordstadt and McCalla induced phytotoxic!ty in soil by adding wheat straw
to the soi1.
In the United States, we are faced with the ever increasing problem of
solid waste disposal and agricultural scientists must answer the questions
31
as to the effects on soil and plant life after final deposition. As Scott
emphasized, "The inescapable facts are:
"1. That the amount of refuse which has to be disposed of annually ad
infinitum keeps increasing.
"2. That whatever the means of disposal practiced-controlled tipping,
incineration or composting-a very large proportion of the wastes
mugt 9o back into or onto the land.
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"3. That the capacity of the land to receive these wastes is limited
and wasting.
uk. That disposal of refuse is a costly business."
The objectives of these studies were (l) to evaluate composted municipal
refuse as a source of plant nutrients, (2) to determine the effects of adding
composted municipal refuse to the soil on water-holding capacity, cation
exchange capacity, pH, conductivity, extractable plant nutrients, etc., (3) to
determine if phytotoxic substances were present in composted municipal
refuse, and (k) to determine the effects of adding composted municipal refuse
to the soil on microbial activity, in particular, on nitrification and carbon
dioxide evolution. Part of this report, which is reported herein under
12, 13, 29
Largo Compost, was published previously
MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Largo Compost
Greenhouse. Composted municipal refuse used in this experiment was obtahed
from an industrial composting plant which was under contract to compost the
refuse from Largo, Florida. Chemical analyses of the compost are shown in
Table I. As obtained from the plant, the compost was kk percent on a wet
weight basis (79 percent 1^0 dry weight basis). The compost was air dried and
screened through hardware cloth with 6 mm openings prior to use.
In order to determine the effects of compost on germination, varying
amounts (0, 10, 20, k0, 80, 160, and 320 g) of compost were shaken in 500 ml
of distilled H20 for 1/2 hour and filtered. The extracts were stored at 7 C
until used. At that time, filter paper discs set in petri dishes were soaked
with 5 ml of the extract and the dishes were arranged in randomized blocks
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of four replications. Twenty-five seeds of oats (Avena satlva L.,1Suregrain'),
turnip(Bfassica rapa L., 'Purple Top White Globe'), and pearl millet (Pennisetum
typhoideum. L., Rick. 'Gahi1) were planted on filter paper. After 5 days at
21 C, each group of seedlings was removed, counted, and measured from plumule
tip to radicle tip. The filter paper and extracts were renewed between each
species planted.
Leon fine sand was air-dried, screened, and limed at the rate of k metric
tons/ha. Soil and garbage compost were thoroughly mixed in a twin-shell blender
and the mixtures were put into plastics pots (2,600 cu cm volume) and arranged
in randomized blocks with four replications. Oats, turnips, radishes, and
pearl millet were planted consecutively, thinned to a uniform stand, and water
was replenished daily weight. Oat foliage was cut at 5 weeks, turnip and
radish at 6 weeks, and millet at 10 weeks. Between each crop, the soil was
screened to remove roots and repotted.
The Leon soil series belongs to the Spodosols Order, more commonly referred
32
to as Ground-Water Podzols. The most distinguishing feature of Leon soils
is a prominent spodic horizon (organic pan) within a depth of 76 cm. The
Spodosols comprise 3,737,443 hectares (9,235,223 acres), or 26.60 percent of
Florida's land area. Under proper water and fertility managemant, these soils
are used profitably for vegetable, citrus, and livestock agriculture. The Leon
fine sand used in this experiment had a pH k.k and contained 85 ppm Ca, 30
ppm Mg, 13 ppm K, and 2 ppm P.
Plant tissue was dried at 70 C, weighed, and ashed at 500 C for chemical
analyses. Nitrogen was determined by the micro Kjeldahl method, P was
k
determined colorimetrically,and K was determined by flame photometry
Soil was sampled after the millet plants were harvested, air dried, and
23
extracted with NH^OAc (pH 4.8) for Ca, Mg, P, and K determinations
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Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was determined by the NH^OAc method, soil pH was
determined in a 1:1 soil: water mixture, and total soluble salts (TSS-mmhos
14
X 640)were determined by electrical conductance in a saturated soil extract
Water-holding capacity was determined by the pressure membrane technique of
27
Richards.
Field. This experiment was conducted in 17.6-liter crocks(hereafter
referred to as pots) set in the soil. The bottom of each pot was covered with
a 2-inch layer of gravel which was, in turn, covered with a layer of glass-
wool upon which the treated soil used in the experiment was placed. A glass-
wool plug inserted in the drainhole and in contact with the. surrounding
soil allowed free drainage through the pots. Individual treatments of
garbage compost, sewage sludge, cow and chicken manures, and 10-10-10
fertilizer were mixed in a motor-driven cement mixer with 13.7 kg of Leon
fine sand which was limed at the rate of 4,5000 kg/ha. Treatments were
arranged in the pots in randomized blocks with four replications. Fifty
oat seeds (Avena sativa 'Suregrain') were planted In each pot and two
cuttings of oat foliage were harvested. After the oat roots were removed,
radish (Raphanus sativus 'Early Scarlet Globe') seeds were planted and the
seedlings were thinned to 24 per pot when 10 days old.
The organic materials used in this experiment were commercial products
except for the garbage compost which was obtained from a composting plant
in Largo, Florida. All materials were air-dried and ground to pass-a 20-
mesh screen before;incorporation into the soil. Laboratory analyses of
organic materials are presented in Table I. The high salt content of all
materials shown would indicate a possible danger to salt-sensitive plants

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if excessive amounts of these materials were applied to the soil, especially
where rainfall was not sufficient to carry the salts below the root zone.
Plant material was dried at 70 C, weighed, and ashed at 500 C for chemical
analyses. Nitrogen was determined by the micro Kjeldahl method, P and B were
14
determined colorimetrically, K was determined by flame photometry and the
other plant nutrients (Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, and Zn) were determined by atomic
6
absorption. .
After the radishes were harvested, soil samples were removed from each
pot, air dried, and screened through a 0.5 mm sieve for chemical analysis.
Soil pH was determined in a 1:1 soil:water mixture, total soluble salts
were determined by electrical conductance in a saturated soil extract,
cation exchange capacity (CEC) was determined by the NH^OAc method, and
soil Ca, P, K, and Mg were determined in an NH^OAc (pH 4.8) soil extract.
Soil water-holding capacity was determined as moisture equivalent (ME)
which is the ability of a soli to hold water under a centrifugal force
1,000 times that of gravity
Microbioloqical. The surfiace (0-to-15-cm) layer of an Arredondo fine
sand was used for all decomposition studies. The soil had been planted to
agronomic crops for many years and had pH S.k. Nitrification had been
previously demonstrated to occur in this soil. The Arredondo soil had not
been classified in the new comprehensive system, but will probably be
included with the Quartzipsamments.
Organic materials used in these experiments were garbage compost,
chicken manure, cow manure, and sewage sludge. All materials except the
garbage compost were obtained from local commercial sources. Garbage
compost was obtained from a composting plant in Largo, Fla. These organic
materials (Table 1) were dried at 70 C and ground in a Wiley mill to pass
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a 20- mesh screen. Each material was mixed with soil at specified ratios
and moisture adjusted to 100 millibars of water suction. The amended soil
was then incubated at 28 C. Evolved CO^ was absorbed in standard NaOH
solution and precipitated as BaCO^ by addition of sufficient BaCl2 solution
to insure1complete precipitation. Excess NaOH was titrated with standard
HC1. Carbon dioxide evolution was determined throughout the various studies.
The amounts obtained were added to the previous evolution and reported as
totals. Phenolphthalein was used as the indicator. Nitrate-nitrogen was
14
determined by the phenoldisulfonic acid method
The influence of garbage compost on numbers of soil microflora was
investigated by mixing 0, 1, 5, and 10 g of compost with 100 g of soil
and incubating for 26 days at 28 C. Plate counts, in quintuplicate,
were made periodically for relative numbers of fungi on rose bengal agar
1
and for bacteria on soil extract agar •
Garbage compost, cow manure, chicken manure, and sewage sludge were
used as amendments to Arredondo fine sand at 0, 2, k, 6, 8, and 10 g per
100 g of soil, replicated three times. The amended soil was incubated
for 65 days. Carbon dioxide evolution was determined throughout the
study and N0j-N was determined at the end of 65 days.
Ground garbage compost was also used at 0, 10, 20, 30, k0,. 50, 60, 70,
80, 90, and 100 g per 100 g of soil and incubated for 101 days. Carbon
dioxide evolution was determined at various intervals during the investigation.
Another study was conducted to investigate the influence of mixing
garbage compost with other organic materials. In this study, garbage compost
was mixed with cow manure, chicken manure, and sewage sludge in equal amounts
by weight and added to the soil at levels of 0, 1, 2, J, k, and 5 g of each
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material per 100 g of soil and incubated for 64 days. Carbon dioxide
evolution was determined periodically and NO^-N was determined at the end of
the experiment.
St. Petersburg Compost
Greenhouse. A commercial product packaged from composted municipal
refuse under the tradename of "Cura" was obtained from the compost plant
at St. Petersburg, Florida, for this experiment. The compost (Table 1)
was mixed with Arredondo sand which had pH 5.8 and contained 12 ppm P,
I
28 ppm K, 388 ppm Ca, and 73 ppm Mg. The soil was limed at the rate of
2 metric tons/ha and weighed into portions of 4,500 g each. The soil
was mixed thoroughly with compost at rates which progressed geometrically
from 1 metric ton/ha through 64 metric tons/ha, placed in pots, and
arranged in completely randomized blocks of four replications in the
greenhouse. Two control treatments which contained no added fertilizer or
a 10-10-10 fertilizer applied at 1 metric ton/ha were used for comparison.
The total number of treatments was nine. The soil was wet thoroughly with
distilled water and allowed to drain for two days. The pots were weighed
and an average weight was obtained as a guide for watering throughout the
experiment.
Cranberry beans .(Phaseolus vulgaris Savi) were planted, thinned to
three plants per pot at 14 days from planting, and harvested at 45 days
from planting. Oats (Avena sativa L.) were planted in the pots, after
the beans were removed, and harvested at 70 days from planting. Additional
fertilizer and compost were applied at the original rates to the appropriate
pots, and three 14-day old tomato (Licopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings
were transplanted from vermiculite into each pot. Two of these plants were

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harvested at 14 days from transplanting and the remaining plant was harvested
at 56 days from transplanting.
The plant tissue was dried at 70 C, weighed, ground to pass a 20-mesh
screen, and analyzed chemically. The soil was sampled after the tomato plant
harvest and analyzed chemically.
Fairf ield Compost
Greenhouse. A pelletized compost manufactured by the Fairfield
Engineering Company, Marion, Ohio, was obtained for this experiment.
Arredondo sand with pH 6.6 and containing 11 ppm P, 12 ppm K, 565 ppm Ca,
and 6 ppm Mg was weighed in 6,000 g portions and mixed with compost
(Table 1) at rates of 8 to 6k metric tons/ha. Again, control treatments
i
with no added fertilizer or 2 tons/ha of 10-10-10 fertilizer were used
as comparisons. Sorghum (Sorghum vulqare Pers.) seeds were planted, thinned
to four plants per pot at 14 days from planting, and harvested at 70 days
from planting. Compost and fertilizer were added again at the original
rates to the appropriate pots, sorghum seeds planted, thinned to 6 plants
per pot, and harvested at kS days from planting.
Plant tissue was dried at 70 C, weighed, ground to pass a 20-mesh
screen, and analyzed chemically. Soil has not been analyzed as of this
report.
Gainesvi11e Compost
Field. Compost prepared by the Gainesville Municipal Waste Conversion
Authority, Gainesville, Florida, was used in this experiment. The compost
(Table 1) was applied to plots (3x7 meters) located on phosphate sand

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tailings at International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, Bartow,
Florida. The experimental design was a 5 x 5 latain square with treatments
as follows:
(1) 1 ton/ha of 10-10-10 fertilizer, (2) 35 tons/ha of compost + 10-10-10,
(3) 70 tons/ha of compost + 10-10-10, (k) 35 tons/ha of compost, and
(5) 70 tons/ha of compost. Compost and fertilizer were applied in the
spring of two consecutive years and sorghum was planted. Sorghum was
harvested, fertilizer only reapplied at 1 ton/ha, and oats were planted
in the fall of the two years. Plant yields, tissue analyses, and soil
analyses were recorded as in other experiments.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Largo Compost
Greenhouse. The specific conductance of the water extracts
increased greatly as the amount of compost extracted increased -1.97,
3.50, 5.85, 11.00, 18.00, and 26.60 millimhos per cm for the 10, 20, 40,
14
80, 160, and 320 g samples, respectively. According to Jackson. ..above
8 millimhos/cm is considered a strongly saline solution and only tolerant
plant species will grow satisfactorily in a soil that produces an extract
of this concentration or higher.
Of the plant species chosen for this study, turnip has good salt
20	17
tolerance , oat and pearl millet plants have moderate salt tolerance.
The germination of oat and pearl millet seeds (Table 2) was not
significantly depressed except by the extract from the highest compost
rate (320 g) and, in fact, there was improved germination where extracts
from kO to 80 g of compost were used. However, turnip seeds under the
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conditions of this experiment were not tolerant of the two highest rates
of compost and radish seed germination was depressed greatly at the^O g
compost rate.
Seedling growth of all species increased in the extracts from 10 to
80 5 of compost 35 compared to distilled water. In the 160 g compost
extract no radicles developed on turnip seedlings. The extracts were r»ot
analyzed for plant nutrients and no attempt was made to determine if
a phytotoxic compound was present so no explanation is offered for these
beneficial or detrimental effects.
Oat foliage yields and nutrient uptake are presented in Table 3.
The highest yield was from plants grown in the 512-^ton compost treatment.
Nitrogen uptake by the oat plants was much higher from the 512-ton compost
treatment than from the other treatments. The lack of significant increase
in N uptake by oat plants growing in the 2, 8, and 32 tons/ha treatments
indicated that N in the compost was probably diverted to supply the needs
of the microbial population. Phosphorus uptake was significantly higher in
plants from the two highest rates of compost. As with N uptake, K uptake was
greatest in the highest compost rate.
Turnip foliage growth (Table 4) was increased greatly in the three
highest compost treatments. Nitrogen deficiency sympotoms-1ight green
color, changing to yellow with age-appeared in all of the other three
treatments. On the other hand, turnip plants growing in the 512-ton
compost treatment exhibited striking phytotoxic effects which were not
identified. The symptoms were not the usual stunting and blue-green color
attributable to salt injury, but there was a spiraling in the older leaves
which progressed until the leaf cohered into a thin, stem-1 ike appendage.
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There was no discoloration in the affected leaves or in the rest of the plant.
Nitrogen, P, and K uptake was significantly greater in the turnip plants
grown in the three highest rates of compost. Increased yield and N uptake
by turnip plants grown in the 32-ton compost treatment indicated that the
soil microbial population was releasing N for higher plants utilization.
At that time the compost had been in the soil for 6 months.
Radish foliage yields (Table 5) were significantly higher in the
128-and 512-ton compost treatments. Yields in the 2-and 32-ton compost
treatments were significantly lower than the control and the 8-ton
treatment yielded the same as the control. Here again, N deficiency
symptoms appeared in the control and the three lowest compost treatments.
There were no indications of phytotoxic effects manifested by any radish
plant. The uptake of N, P, and K was significantly greater in plants grown
in the 128-and 512-ton compost treatments as compared to plants grown in
the other treatments. The low N uptake by plants from the three lowest compost
treatments was further evidence of microbial competition for available N.
Pearl millet yields (Table 6) in the 512-ton compost treatment were over
two times the 128-ton compost treatment yields. There were N deficiency
symptoms manifested by plants growing in the control and 2-ton compost
treatments; however, none of the symptoms was severe. There were no
recognizable phytotoxic symptoms manifested by any of the pearl millet plants
growing in the 512-ton compost treatment. Potassium uptake was of particular
interest, as the plants in that treatment removed over 50 times the amount of
K removed by the control plants. Potassium deficiency should have developed
in the plants growing in the control pots; however, no symptoms were manifested.

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As shown in Tables 7 and 8, the two highest rates (1.28 and 512 tons/ha)
of compost increased significantly soil P, K, Ca, Mg, TSS, pH, CEC, and water-
holding capacity. In addition, the soil at the end of this experiment
appeared to have better structure where the two highest rates of compost
were added.
Field. The oat seeds germinated normally in all pots; however, seeds
in soil containing the highest rate of compost (512 metric tons/ha) were
from 3 to 5 days later than the other seeds in germinating. For the first
few weeks, oat seedlings in all pots grew satisfactorily with no indications
of nutrient deficiencies. When the seedlings were 6 to 7 weeks old, N
deficiency symptoms—yellowish green to yellow leaves and purplish green
stems— began to appear in the control pots and the symptoms increased in
severity as growth continued. In addition, N deficiency symptoms were
observed after the first cutting (at 12 weeks of age) in the pots containing
2 and 8 tons/ha of compost; however, plants in those pots never developed
the severe N deficiency symptoms noted in the control pots. No visual
evidence of other nutrient deficiencies were discernible, but other deficiency
symptoms would likely have been masked by the N deficiency symptoms.
Total yields of oat foliage from two cuttings (Table 9) were increased
signigicantly over the control by all treatments, and yields increased
progressively within the compost treated soil as the amount of compost
applied increased. The highest yield (52 g) was obtained from the highest
rate of compost. Plant growth was, no doubt, a function of the added N
available to the plants (168 mg in the lowest rate of compost up to 4-3 g
in the highest rate, and 12.23 g, 2.96 g, 5.91 g, and 1.40 g in the sludge,
-16-

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cow manure, chicken manure, and 10-10-10 treatments, respectively).
Nitrogen uptake by the oat plants (Table 9) was significantly increased
by all treatments except where the three lowest rates of compost were applied.
Frequently, plants suffering under a deficiency of a particular nutrient will
contain a relatively high concentration of that nutrient. This was true of
the oat plants from the control pots which contained 2.58 percent N (average
of two cuttings) as compared to 2.29:percent, 2.07 percent, 1.83 percent,
2.04 percent, 2.54 percent, 3.55 percent, 1.86-percent, 3.27 percent, and
2.24 percent N in plants from the other pots, as listed from top to bottom
in Table 9. The decrease in N content of plants grown in the first three
compost treatments may have resulted from microbial competition as soil microbes
satisfy their needs before higher plant species. With regard to other nutrients,
only the plants grown in the two lowest rates of compost failed to show
significantly higher uptake than the control plants with the noticeable
exception of K and Mn uptake from the sludge treatment, which was quite low
in both K an Mn.
Yields of fresh radish roots and oven-dry tops (Table 19) were greatly
increased where the highest rate of compost was applied. Sewage sludge and
chicken manure were the only other materials that produced significantly
higher yields than the control. In fact, radish plants from all of the other
treatments, except cow manure, yielded lower than control plants. A large
part of this negative response was doubtless caused by the removal of N by.
the oat plants. In addition, some added N was certainly lost through
leaching. However, neither explanation applied fully to the reduced yields in
pots that had received 128 tons/ha of compost. We.can only conjecture that

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increased microbial activity in those pots deprived the radish plants of
necessary N.
The uptake of plant nutrients by radish tops (Table 19) followed
the same trend as yields where significant differences were concerned.
However, there was one outstanding exception in that K uptake was greatly
curtailed where sewage sludge was applied. The low K content (0.9%) in
plants from the sewage sludge treatment, as compared to 0.16-percent K in
control plants, indicated that there was a soil K deficiency. Typical N
deficiency symptoms-smal1, yellow leaves and small roots-were prevalent in
the first four rates of compost and in the cow manure, 10-10-10, and control
treatments. In addition, N uptake by radish plants in those treatments
was further evidence of a deficient N supply.
The effects of treatment on some soil measurements (Table 11) were
interesting in several respects. Soil pH averaged 6.9 but as pH was not
significantly affected by treatment those data are not included. Water-hoi di.ng
capacity, as measured by moisture equivalents, was increased significantly only
by the 128-and 512-ton rates of compost, whereas cation exchange capacity
was increased significantly only by the 512-ton rate of compost. The two
highest total soluble salts and Ca contents were measured in soil which
had received 128 and 512 tons/ha of compost. Phosphorus content was
increased significantly over the control by all treatments except the two
lowest compost rates. The relatively low K content of sewage sludge was
again emphasized by the small increase in soil K.
It was quite evident through visual observation, plant yield measurements,
and plant and soil analyses that the 512-ton rate of garbage compost was
-I8r

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superior to all other treatments. However, such a high rate, especially in
an initial application, is uneconomical except for a few speciality crops or
on areas as golf courses, lawns, home gardens, etc.
Microbiological. In the soil microbial population studies, a rapid
increase in relative bacterial numbers was obtained during the first 2
days. A rapid drop in bacterial numbers occurred by the 4th day (Figure 1).
This drop was followed by a general leveling of the population in the 1-
and 5-g treatments. The same initial trend occurred in the 10-g treatment.
However, the numbers increased again by the 6th day, then gradually decreased.
An increase in CO^ evolution was obtained as the levels of each organic
material were increased (Figure 3). This increase in CO2 evolution was not
the same for each of the four materials. The rate of increase was faster
for sewage sludge and chicken manure and slower for cow manure. There was
slightly less CO2 evolved from chicken manure than from sewage sludge.
This was true at all levels. Carbon dioxide evolved from chicken manure
and sewage sludge at the 10-g level was 99 percent and 115 percent greater
than cow manure and Ml percent and 55 percent greater than garbage compost.
At this same level, CO2 evolution from garbage compost was 28 percent more
than cow manure. Municipal refuse contains a large percentage of cellulose,
2
sugars, and starches and sugars and starches should be readily decomposed
by microorganisms. In animals, the quality of feed, age, and condition of the
animal influence the amount of cellulose or crude fiber left in the feces.
Because partial decomposition has taken place in the animal, a larger
percentage of more resistant compounds should exist. Therefore, one would
expect cow manure to be more resistant to soil microbial attack than garbage
-19-

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compost. This should be reflected in a reduction of CO2 evolved. Results
obtained indicated significantly less CO2 was evolved from treatments
containing cow manure than garbage compost. On the other hand, chicken manure
and sewage sludge contain a higher percentage of N and easily decomposable
compounds. Thus one would expect these materials to decompose readily after
being added to soil. When total CO2 evolution from the treatments was compared,
a highly significant interaction was observed between materials and level applied.
Separate regression equations were obtained for each material and the slopes of
regressions lines were significantly different. The relationship between
treatment levels and total CO2 evolved was linear in all cases. There was no
significant difference detected in total CO2 for all levels used in this study
for chicken manure and sewage sludge. At all levels, CO2 production for chicken
manure and sewage sludge was significantly greater than that obtained with cow
manure or garbage compost, there was no significant difference at the lower levels.
However, garbage compost became significantly different from cow manure between
the 6-and 8-g level. At the 2-g level, the amount of NO3-N produced was from
highest to lowest chicken manure, sewage sludge, cow manure, and garbage compost.
At this low level, there was approximately 120 percent more NO^-N produced from
chicken manure than from sewage sludge and 227 percent more than from cow manure.
However, a rapid decrease occurred in NO^-N production when levels of chicken
manure and sewage sludge were increased (Figure k). This decrease was probably
the result of an inhibitory effect on nitrification by the high levels of N added.
At the 2-g level, 528 and 1,092 ppm N, respectively, were added when chicken
manure and sewage sludge were used. Nitrate nitrogen in the cow manure treatments
increased linearly as levels of material were increased. Very little nitrification
occurred in the garbage compost treatments. This was probably due to rapid
immobilization of N by microflora during decompostiion of the compost. A highly
significant interaction was obtained between materials and level applied.
-20-

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In the study involving 11 levels of garbage compost, there was a
progressive increase in amounts of CO2 evolved as the amount of compost was
increased (Figure 5). It was evident that an Increase in the amount of
compost added increased the total amount of C02 evolved and that the upper
limit had not been reached. A highly significant relationship was detected .
between levels of compost used.
In the investigation involving the combination of materials, CO2
evolution increased as levels of materials were increased (Figure 6). This
was true for all treatments. As in the single material study, the rate of
increase was faster for sewage sludge and chicken manure and slower for
cow manure. At the highest level of application, CC^ evolution from chicken
manure and sewage sludge was 30 and 55 percent, respectively, more than cow
manure. An interesting observation was noted when the results of this study
were compared with results obtained from the single material study (Figure 3)
When CO2 values from the garbage compost were added to those of cow manure,
chicken manure, or sewage sludge and compared with those obtained in this
study, very little difference was obtained. This indicated that combining
materials had little effect on rate of decomposition. Analyses of variance
indicated that for total C0£ evolved, the effects of material and rate are
independent. The total CO2 evolved was found to be significantly less for
cow manure than for the other two materials. No significant difference was
detected between chicken manure and sewage sludge. For NO^-N (Figure 7),
the relationship of chicken manure to sewage sludge was somewhat similar to
that observed with single materials (Figure k). However, production was
greater and occurred at a higher level than with single materials. This

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was the reverse from the results obtained in the second study (Figure 4)
which indicated that the available N in the cow manure may have been
immobilized by the microflora in the decomposition of the combined materials.
These results also illustrated the modifying influence of compost in reducing
the excessive amounts of nitrogen available for nitrification. For NO^-N the
interaction between levels of materials was found to be significant.
In general, the relative numbers of fungi in garbage compost increased
with time of incubation and bacteria decreased with time of incubation.
Little nitrification occurred in the garbage compost treatments; nitrification
rate decreased rapidly as levels of chicken manure and sewage sludge were
increased above the 2-g level; chicken manure and sewage sludge decomposed
at a faster rate than garbage compost or cow manure; and garbage compost
decomposed at a faster rate than cow manure.
St. Petersburg Compost
Greenhouse. Cranberry beans grew normally in all of the treatments with no
evidence of nutrient deficiences or phytotoxic effects in any plants. There
were no significant differences among treatments with respect to seedling
weights (Table 12). However, compost applied at the 16-ton rate and higher
resulted in significantly more bean pods and fresh bean weights than either
control treatment.
Uptake of N and K by bean seedlings was not significantly affected by
treatment (table 13); however, K uptake was significantly higher in seedlings
removed from the 64-ton rate as compared to the controls. In contrast, mature
beans removed significantly greater amounts of N-P-K from soil treated with
l6tons/ha and higher of compost (Table 14) .
-21-

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The oat plants grew normally with no indications of nutrient deficiencies,
but yields and N-P-K uptake (Table 15) showed evidence that these elements were
in short supply in the control (10-10-10 and no fertilizer) pots. Oat plants
growing in the presence of 16 tons/ha and higher of compost significantly
outyielded the controls and N-P-K uptake was much greater from the 32-and
S^-ton compost applications than from the controls. It was quite evident
.that the residual compost supplied adequate amounts of N-P-K for the oat
plants and at the two highest rates (32 and 6k tons/ha) there was luxury
consumption of K.
After the oat plants were harvested, additional compost or 10-10-10 fertilizer
was added in the original amount. After 7 days, tomato seedlings transplanted
from vermiculite were well established and growing in all pots except where 32
and 6k tons/ha of compost were applied. The seedlings in the 32-ton treatment
survived, but did not start growing until 21 days from transplanting. In the
6*t-ton treated soil three seedlings died and were replaced, and growth did not
resume in those pots until the seedlings had been in the soil for over 30 days.
This compost contained some chemical that was highly toxic to tomato; however,
we were unable to determine the responsible toxicant.
Yields of tomato plant material (Table 16) from the 10-10-10 control pots
were over twice the yields from any other pot. The yields from the 64-ton rate
of compost were reduced drastically as indicated above. The only compost
treatment that outyielded significantly the no-fertilizer control was the 8-ton
rate. Uptake of N-P-K was much greater from the mineral fertilizer than from
the compost. There was no doubt that the tomato plants in the no-fertilizer
control suffered from K deficiency as those plants contained only 0.85% K which
was definitely below the deficiency level.

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Compost applications to Arredondo sand increased soil pH, as compared to
the no fertilizer control, whereas 10-10-10 fertilizer decreased the pH (Table
17). Soluble salts were increased by the two highest compost applications (32 and
64 tons/ha); however, it is doubtful that these levels were high enough to be
harmful to plant life. The. TSS levels were surely much higher in all treatments
soon after compost or fertilizer applications, but several liters of water
added for plant use had moved the salts out of the soil. Soil levels of P,K,
Ca, and Mg were greatly increased by two compost applications of 4 to 64 toris/ha.
Potassium levels in the control pots were much lower than in any of the compost
treated pots.
Fairfield Compost
Greenhouse. The first sorghum seeds planted germinated satisfactori1ly in
pots and the plants grew normally without manifesting any deficient or toxic
symptoms. Sorghum plants that were growing in soil containing the two highest
rates of compost (32 and 64 tons/ha) and 10-10-10 fertilizer produced seedheads
7 days before the two lowest rates of compost (8 and 16 tons/ha) and 14 days
before the no-fertilizer control. Average plant height at maturity was greatest
in sorghum from the 32-ton rate of compost (704 nren) and least from the
no-fertilizer control (379 mm).
Sorghum yields were significantly increased by all compost applications
as compared to no fertilizer (Table 18). However, only the 64-ton compost
rate outyielded the 10-10-10 fertilizer control. Uptake of N-P-K was also
significantly greater in plants grown where compost was applied as compared to
no fertilizer. Uptake of N and K from the compost treated soil was almost
linear from the low to the highest rate.
The second sorghum crop was normal in all treatments except where no
fertilizer or compost was applied. As shown in Table 19, yields of sorghum
-24-

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plants grown in the unfertilized soil were much lower than yields from the
other [treatments and greatly reduced as compared to the first crop (1.4 g
j
versus 11.2 g). This indicated that the first crop removed a large portion
of the available plant nutrients from the soil leaving very little for the
second crop. On the other hand, residual plant nutrients plus the additional
compost or fertilizer greatly benefited plants growing in the other treatments
as shown by plant yields and N-P-K uptake.
Gainesville Compost
Field. The phosphate mining process involves a procedure in which the
phosphate is removed from the matrix through flotation. After the phosphate
is removed, there remains two waste products—phosphate "slimes" and sand
tailings—which are of major concern to the industry as they present tremendous
problems of disposal and land reclamation. The sand tailings are pumped onto
mined out areas to depths of 20 feet and higher, allowed to drain, and planted
to suitable vegetation. This material is a coarse sand, quite low in available
plant nutrients (pH 7.5, and containing 36 ppm P, 5 ppm K, 223 ppm Ca, and 36
ppm Mg extracted in NH^OAc at pH 4.8), and with little cation exchange capacity
or water-holding capacity.
The first crop, sorghum, planted in this experiment was slow in becoming
established and showed evidence of nutrient deficiencies almost continuously
from seedling stage to maturity. Torrential rains, during the 4th and 5th
weeks from planting induced severe N deficiency symptoms in all plots. Therefore,
NH^NO^ was applied as a sidedressing to the sorghum growing in plots which .
received 10-10-10. Seedhead yields in this first crop (Table 20 were significantly
increased where compost plus 10-10-10 was applied as compared to 10-10-10
above.
-25-

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However, yields from plots which received only compost were negligible. Yields
from the first crop of oats were also increased greatly where compost plus
10-10-10 was applied. Oat seeds germinated satisfactorily in the plots
containing residual compost only, but 100 percent of the seedlings died shortly
after germination. The cause of death was not determined; however, it was
doubtless brought about by severe N deficiency. The second crop of sorghum
appeared much healthier than the first crop and seedhead yields were much
greater. Also, the second oat crop was much better than the first crop.
The large increase in sorghum seedhead yields from all plots in the second
year as compared to the first year was outstanding. This was particularly
noteworthy in the compost only plots. Oat seeds were broadcast on the plots in
the first year and were eaten by redwing blackbirds which necessitated replanting.
Oat seeds were planted in furrows/plot, 72 cm apart, in the second year.
Therefore, yields cannot be compared between years, but the second year yields
would certainly have been 3 or k times higher under broadcast planting. Again
with oats, the increase in yields from compost only plots between years was
noteworthy. Bird pilferage during both years prevented oat seed harvests and
forced the planting of bird resistant sorghum seed.
The addition of compost plus 10-10-10 to sand tailings resulted in
increased K contents of sorghum the first year and increased N-K contents the
second year as compared to 10-10-10 alone (Table 21). Compost alone did not
provide sufficient N for satisfactory sorghum growth during the first year;
however, during the second year N availability was improved considerably.
Nitrogen uptake by sorghum during the first year was significantly less in
plants growing in compost treated soil than where 10-10-IT0 alone was applied.
-26-

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This was reversed during the second year which indicated that residual compost
was influencing N availability. Nitrogen determinations in oat foliage (Table 22)
also supports this observation.
SUMMARY
Under a strict interpretation of the requirements that an organic material
must meet for compost qualification, only the Fairfield material could be so
classified. That material had a C/N ratio of 17 as compared to 26 for the Largo
compost, k3 for the St. Petersburg compost, and 55 for the Gainesville compost.
In addition to a relatively low C/N ratio, the Fairfield compost was1 pelletized,
free of moisture, and agreeable to handle. In contrast, the other composts
contained excess moisture and had physical characteristics that made them
exceedingly disagreeable to handle. The low soluble salt content (Table l)
of the Fairfield compost and the high soluble salt content of the other three
composts must also be considered in rating these materials.
The future of municipal refuse composting depends to a large extent on
utilization of the finished product. Our investigations indicated that the
compost was beneficial to the soil and that relatively large amounts could be
applied without danger to plants. However, we must recognize that low N
content and high sol table salt content present problems that must be overcome.
In both instances the soil microbial population and climatic conditions will
alleviate detrimental effects in time, by narrowing the C/N ratio and by
leaching soluble salts below the root zone.
We are cognizant of the fact that laboratory and greenhouse investigations
are most useful in evaluating materials as the composts used in our studies.
-2 7-

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However, the laboratory or greenhouse cannot substitute for actual field
conditions. Research in the field was only begun and it must continue in order
to complete the picture.
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REFERENCES
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Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1949. 126 p.
2.	Bell, J. M. Characteristics of municipal refuse. American Public Works
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6.	Breland H. L. Atomic absortion method of analysis for agricultural
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9.	Conover, C. A., and J. N. Joiner. Garbage Compost as a potential soil
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10.	Fuller, W. H., E. W. Carpenter, and M. F. L'Armiziata, Evaluation of
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America Proc., 26(5):456-458. Sept.-Oct. 1962.
12.	Hortenstine, C. C., and D. F. Rothwel1. Garbage compost as a source of
plant nutrients for oats and radishes, Compost Science. 9(2):23-25,
Summer 1968.
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13.	Hortenstine, C. C., and D. F. Rothwell. Evaluation of composted munic-
ipal refuse as a plant nutrient source and soil amendment on Leon
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15.	Langdale, G. W., and J. E. Giddens. Phytotoxic phenolic compounds in
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Dec. 1967.
16.	Lawrence, T., and M. R. Kilcher. The effect of fourteen root extracts
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26.	Patrick, Z. A., T. A. Toussouri, and W. C. Snyder. Phytotoxic substances
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\
32.	Smith, F. B., R. G. Leighty, R. E. Caldwell, V. W. Carlisle, L. G. Thompson,
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34.	Tietjen, C. Conservation and field testing of compost. Compost
Sc ience, 5(l):8-l4, Spring 1964.
35.	Westrate, W. A. G. Composting of city refuse, American Public Works
Association Special Report, 29:136-148, Feb. 1964.
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TOO
<0
O
- 460
X
O
w
0>
o 320
O
CO
%•
o
C0
w
4
c teo
5
z
V
>
* 0
1
1

	og
1

	 , g
¦ I

	9?


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1





0 2 4 6	13	20	26
Time - Days
Fig I Relative numbers of bacteria and Actinomyces
per gram of a mixture of finely ground garbage compost
and Arredondo fine sand.
32

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Time - Days
Fig. 2. Relative numbers of fungi per gram of
mixtures of finely ground garbage compost and
Arredondo fine sand.
33

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1600
/
Pp	I	I	I	1
0	2	4	6	8	10
wt. of material - g/100 g soil
Fig. 3. Total amount of CO2-C evolved from mixtures
of Arredondo fine sand and organic materials over a period
of 65 days.
34

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320
sewage sludge
chicken manure
garbage compost
	cow manure
I
2	4	6
wt. of material-g/toog soil
-- 'rnim
10
Fig. 4. Nitrate N produced from mixtures of
Arredondo fine sand and organic materials after 65
days.
35

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wt. of material - g/ioog soil
Fig. 5. Total amount of C02~C evolved from
ground garbage compost mixed with Arredondo fine
sand over a period of 101 days.
36

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wt. of material-g/ioog soil
Fig. 6. Total amount of COg- C evolved from
mixtures of finely ground garbage compost with cow
manure, chicken manure, and sewage sludge mixed
with Arredondo fine sand over a 64-day period.
37

-------
Fig. 7. Nitrate nitrogen produced from combinations
of ground garbage with cow manure, chicken manure and
sewage sludge mixed with Arredondo fine sand at the
end of 64 days.
38

-------
TABLE 1
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF ORGANIC MATERIALS USED IN THESE
EXPERIMENTS
Material
pH
ash
C
TSS
N
P
K
Ca
Mg
Mn
B
Cu
Zn





	°/___



















--ppm


Cura Compost
7.5
16
33
1.73
0.76
0.17
0.30
0.99
0.07
106
-
29
196
Fairfield Compost
5.7
-
39
0.02
2.27
0.45
0.20
0.01
-
8
16
-
294
Largo Compost
6.9

31
2.30
1.20
0.26
0.38
1.30
0.07
130
25
125
250
1
'Gainesville Compost
6.9
42
32
2.15
0.58
0.23
0.21
2.14
0.12
140
40
-
540
Milorganite Compost
4.1
27
-
2.20
5.46
0.28
0.34
0.30
0.16
23
5
90
180
Cow Manure
6.7
50
-
4.40
1.32
0.52
2.52
1.29
0.27
81
6
16
38
Chicken Manure
7.2
33
-
4.05
2.64
0.48
1.80
1.85
0.38
133
17
32
196

-------
TABLE 2
EFFECTS OF COMPOST/WATER EXTRACTS ON SEED GERMINATION AND
SEEDLING LENGTH AFTER 5 DAYS
Compost	Oats	Turnip	Radish	Millet
g
°/o
mm
%
mm .
°/o '
mm
%
mm
0
92
123
96
48
96
72
82
74
10
94
151
100
82
100
100
82
90
20
92
149
96
91
100
98
80
80
4o
98
151
93
87
96
90
91
91
80
99
131
84
77
56
82
88
99
160
96
74
40
14
16
17
78
70
320
41
29
0
0
0
0
45
37
L.S.D. 5%
5
20
15
7
5
18
5
12
1°/o
7
25
17
9
7
20
7
16
40

-------
TABLE 3
YIELDS AND N, P, AND K UPTAKE BY OAT FOLIAGE GROWN IN
LEON FINE SAND
Material





applled
T/ha
Oven-dry
N
P
K


g/pot



None
0
1.6
57
3
92
Compost
2
2.2
66
3
88
Compost
8
2.6
61
3
112
Compost
32
1.9
63
k
104
Compost
128
2.k
87
6
128
Compost
512
3^
]k2
9
173
L.S.D.
57o
0.5
20
1
35

1%
0.7
30
2
k2
41

-------
TABLE 4
YIELDS AND N, P, K UPTAKE BY TURNIP FOLIAGE GROWN IN
LEON'FINE SAND
Material
applied	T/ha	Oven-Dry	N	P	K


g/pot



None
0
1.7 :
34
5
31
Compost
2
2.9
54
6
50
Compost
8
2.7
54
7
54
Compost
32
4.3
86
12
103
Compost
128
6.0
113
21
168
Compost
512
5.2
282
18
295
L.S.D.
5%
1.5
25
3
25

1%
2.0
30
5
30
42

-------
TABLE 5
YIELDS AND N,P, K UPTAKE BY RADISH FOLIAGE GROWN IN
LEON FINE SAND
Material





applied
T/ha
Oven-dry
N
P
K


g/pot



None
0
k.S
123
8
89
Compost
2
3.9
112
6
56
Compost
8
k.2
103
8
90
Compost
32
3.1
87
8
133
Compost
128
7.5
192
18
355
Compost
512
7.0
237
22
367
L.S.D.
5%
1.U
30
5
125
¦
1%
1.8
35
6
150
43

-------
table 6
YIELDS AND N, P, K UPTAKE BY PEARL MILLET FQLIAGE GROWN IN
LEON FINE SAND
Material




-
applied
T/ha
Oven-dry
N
P
K


g/pot



None
0
7.8
107
12
23
Compost
2
7-6
113
10
h5
Compost
8
9.2
125
16
3^
Compost
32
11.8
146
16
86
Compost
128
18.2
203
37
597
Compost
512
39.1
305
57
1,230
L.S.D.
5%
6.0
65
8
67

1%
8.5
77
10
79
44

-------
TABLE 7

EFFECTS OF
TREATMENT
ON SOIL P,K,Ca, Mg,
TOTAL
SOLUBLE



SALTS,
AND
pH OF LEON FINE
SAND
*

Material







app)ied
T/ha
P
K
Ca
Mg
TSS
PH




	PPm	



None
0
1
7
738
16
287
6.2
Compost
2
3
9
669
16
229
6.0
Compost
8
3
8
684
16
229
6.0
Compost
32
3
9
882
16
258
6.1
Compost
128
6
13
1,165
kl
607
S.k
Compost
512
10
17
1,682
79
1,512
6.5
L.S.D.
5%
2
k
158
11
131
.1

1%
3
5
215
15
178
.2
45

-------
TABLE 8
EFFECTS OF TREATMENT ON CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY
AND WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY OF LEON FINE SAND.
Material





applied
T/ha
CEC
Soil
Moisture (%)



meg/100g
1/10 atm
1/3 atm
15 atm
None
0
3.67
6.42
4.28
3.84
Compost
2
3.70
6.45
4.18
4.00
Compost
8
3.78
6.65
4.39
3.96
Compost
32
3.90
7.34
4.78
4.36
Compost
128
4.81
8.15
5.91
5.52
Compost
512
7.1^
10.79
8.62
8.10
L.S.D.
5%
.48
.47
.37
.35

1%
.64
.63
.50
.46
46

-------
TABLE 9
INFLUENCE OF TREATMENT ON YIELD AND NUTRIENT
UPTAKE BY OATS GROWN ON LEON FINE SAND
Material
Amount
applled
Yield
N
P
K
Ca
Mg
Mn
B
Cu
Zn

Metric tons/ha
g/pot



















Garbage Compost
2
26
604
36
435
134
58
1.4
0.3
0.4
1.7
ii n
8
28
594
39
560
135
57
1.8
0.3
0.5
1.8
n n
32
36
678
53
1015
166
80
5.1
0.5
0.6
3.1
^ II M
128
49
1011
116
1865
231
126
14.9
1.1
1.0
5.7
II II
512
52
1170
101
1880
245
110
16.0
2.6
1.1
4.4
Sewage sludge
32
42
1405
157
413
375
112
2.9
0.5
0.9
4.4
Cow manure
32
45
896
138
1955
151
89
3.4
0.4
0.6
4.0
Chicken manure
32
45
1443
150
1736
234
100
5.0
0.6
0.6
4.0
10-10-10+ M3,











Mn, Cu, Zn, B
2
46
1051
76
1000
218
116
8.6
0.7
0.9
5.4
Control

19
494
22
215
111
39
0.8
0.2
0.3
1.0
L.S.D.
5%
1%
6
8
229
311
23
32
432
590
50
68
26
35 *
3.5
4.8
o o
ovi-
CM
© o
1.4
1.9

-------
TABLE 10
INFLUENCE OF TREATMENT ON RADISH YIELDS AND NUTRIENT
UPTAKE BY RADISH TOPS GROWN ON LEON FINE SAND
Yield
Material
Amount
appl ied
F resh
roots
Oven-dry
tops
N
P
K
Mn
Zn
Cu

Metric tons/ha










¦g/pot	






Garbage Compost
2
27
2.0
56
56
24
.05
0.2
.02
II II
8
36
2.3
59
62
25
.07
0.3
.02
II II
32
3^
1.9
50
55
25
.07
0.2
.02
00 " 11
128
39
2.1
62
84
^7
.11
0.3
.02
II II
512
187
9.4
375
263
467
.54
3.0
.16
Sewage sludge
32
113
8.9
260
695
65
.43
1.7
.12
Cow manure
32
67
3.2
99
126
61
.17
0.3
.04
Chicken manure
32
151
6.6
204
304
126
.33
0.7
.07
10-10-10+Mg,









Mn, Cu, Zn, B
2
43
2.7
66
82
30
.17
0.4
.03
Cont rol
-
50
3.6
100
105
35
.08
0.5
.04
L.S.D-	5%	37	1.0	37	72	79	.10	0.3	.03
1%	50	1.3	51	90	108	.13	0.4	.04

-------
TABLE 11
INFLUENCE OF TREATMENT ON SOME PHYSICAL AND
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF LEON FINE SAND
Amount
Material	applied	ME	CEC	TSS	Ca	P	K	Mg

Metric tons/ha
%
meg/1OOg


	PPm	


Garbage Compost
2
5.19
4.05
272
825
2.0
10
26
ii ii
8
5.33
4.01
297
860
2.0
15
24
n ii
JSw
32
5.65
4.27
569
915
3.5
19
32
VO " "
128
6.98
4.90
1035
1188
7.5
95
54
11 11
512
11.5^
8.28
1663
1981
11.0
223
104
Sewage sludge
32
5.57
4.51
256
690
11.0
12
38
Cow manure
32
5.73
4.27
674
986
12.3
133
60
Chicken manure
32
5.33
4.55
296
895
16.5
23
60
10-10-10-+ Mg,








Mn, Cu, Zn, B
2
5.60
4.84
641 ,
766
4.0
12
39
Control
•
5.83
4.67
171
785
1.8
10
20
L.S.D.
5%
.41
.66
330
140
0.4
60
14

1%
.55
.90
448
190
0.5
" 81
19

-------
TABLE 12
YIELDS OF BEAN PLANT MATERIAL GROWN IN ARREDONDO
SAND CONTAINING "CURA" COMPOST
Material
Rate
Seedlings
Pods/pot
Fresh Beans
Oven-dry Plants "

tons/ha
g/pot
No./pot
g/pot
g/pot
Cura
1
4.0
6
9.8
5.9
II
2
4.2
8
15.8
6.3
II
4
4.4
7
16.2
6.7
II
8
4.4
6
14.4
7.0
II
16
4.9
9
21.2
8.2
II
32
5.0
10
18.9
7.7
II
64
6.0
11
20.4
8.6
10-10-10
1
4.9
5
12.7
6.2
None
-
5.0
6
13.5
6.2
L.S.D.
5%
N.S.
3
5.0
2.1

1°/o
<
N.S.
4
6.7
N.S.
50

-------
TABLE 13


UPTAKE OF N,P, AND K
BY IMMATURE BEANS



PLANTS
GROWN IN ARREONDO SAND
CONTAINING "CURA"
COMPOST


Materials
Rate
N
P
K


Tons/ha

	mg/pot	


Cura
1
197
28
Wk

11
2
199
28
97

II
if
220
31
108

11
8
223
32
121

11
16
2^0
3k
1^7

II
32
238
30
149

II
6k
296
3k
262

10-10-10
1
253
3k
]k8

None
¦
207
31
101

L.S.D.
5%
N.S.
N.S.
58


1%
N.S.
N.S.
79

51

-------
TABLE 14
UPTAKE OF N,P, AND K BY MATURE BEAN
PLANTS GROWN IN ARREDONDO SAND CONTAINING "CURA COMPOST
Material
Rate
N
P
K

Tons/ha



Cura
1
104
14
76
11
2
105
17
78
1 1
4
117
21
83
1 1
8
111
22
105
II
16
155
25
150
1 1
32
126
22
146
11
64
147
25
225
10-10-10
1
112
15
95
None
-
90
15
58
L.S.D.
5%
38
8
34

1%
N.S.
N.S.
46
52

-------
K
92
84
75
101
101
179
225
92
70
25
34
TABLE 15
YIELDS AND UPTAKE OF N,P, AND K BY OAT
PLANTS GROWN IN ARREDONDO SAND CONTAINING "CURA" COMPOST
Rate
Oven-dry
N
P
Tons/ha
g/pot


1
6.7
70
26
2
6.3
68
26
4
6.0
61
27
8
6.4
66
30
16
7.8
70
33
32
8.2
92
40
64
8.1
93
44
1
5.7
51
26
-
5.5
62
25
5%
1.1
13
4
1%
1.4
18
6
53

-------
TABLE 16
YIELDS AND UPTAKE OF N,P, AND K BY TOMATO PLANTS
GROWN IN ARREDONDO SAND CONTAINING "CURA" COMPOST
Material	Rate	Oven-dry	N	P	K

Tons/ha
g/pot

	mg/pot—

Cura
1
6.1
96
32
62
1 1
2
6.4
90
21
64
1 1
4
6.2
90
22
70
1 1
8
7.6
101
25
113
1 1
16
4.9
67
22
118
1 1
32
4.7
55
24
151
1 1
64
1.9
29
10 1
69
10
1
15.2
197
34
227

-
5.8
97
20
50
L.S.D.	1.7	18	7	23
2.4	25	9	31

-------
TABLE 17
INFLUENCE OF TREATMENT ON SOME CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES OF ARREDONDO SAND
Material
Rate
PH
TSS
P
K
Ca
mg

Tons/ha



	ppm	


Cura
1
6.60
415
8
97
751
77
1 1
2
6.60
394
8
131
918
86
1 1
4
6.60
545
12
235
1315
105
t 1
8
6.65
435
15
322
1645
115
1 1
16 .
6.70
495
19
365
1865
128
1 1
32
6.60
746
21
442
2160
144
1 1
64
6.80
1288
25
590
2798
191
10-10^-10
1
6.05
543
7
41
516
68
None
-
6.50
417
6
12
354
59
L.S.D.
_
0.10
189
2
49
235
25

-
0.13
257
3
66
320
34
55

-------
TABLE 18
YIELDS AND N,P, AND K UPTAKE BY THE FIRST SORGHUM
PLANTS GROWN IN ARREDONDO SAND CONTAINING FAIRFIELD COMPOST
Materials
Rate
Oven-dry
N
P
K
It

Tons/ha
g/pot




None
-
11.2
102
33
55

Compost
8
16.7
194
58
85

1 1
16
20.6
269
71
117

1 1
32
24.8
383
79
171

1 1
(A
26.0
579
77
254

10-10-10
2
22.3
412
67
368

L.S.D.
57°
1%
3.0
4.2
78
108
9
13
31
43

56

-------
TABLE 19
YIELDS AND N,P, AND K UPTAKE BY THE SECOND SORGHUM PLANTS.
GROWN IN ARREDONDO SAND CONTAINING FAIRFIELD COMPOST
Material
Rate
Oven-dry
N
P
K

Tons/ha
g/pot

	mg/pot—

None
-
1.4
38
7
5
Compost
8
12.1
124
40
48
1 1
16
18.9
183
h7
86
1 1
32
31.5
312
68
178
1 1
64
39.6
673
82
352
10-10-10
2
34.4
504
62
585
L.S.D.
5%
3.5
82
9
21

1%
h.S
114
13
29
57

-------
TABLE 20
YIELDS OF SORGHUM SEEDHEADS AND OAT FOLIAGE
GROWN IN PHOSPHATE MINE TAILINGS CONTAINING COMPOST
Compost 10-
10-10
Sorghum(g/plot)
Oats(g/pl
ot)
	Tons/ha
i	
1968-'69
1969-'70
1968-'69
1969-';
0
1
290
626
2086
1022
35
1
492
886
2723
1520
70
1
540
1248
2674
1838
30
0
8
151
0
86
70
0
28
432
0
.130
L.S.D.
5%
124
118
387
304

r/o
174
m
542
424
58

-------
TABLE 21
EFFECTS OF COMPOST ON N-P-K CONTENTS OF SORGHUM PLANTS
GROWING IN PHOSPHATE SAND TAILINGS
» Compost. 10-
-10-10

1968-
'69 (7c)

1969-170(%)

	Tons/ha-

N
P
K
N
P
K
' 0
1 .
1.51
0.55
0.39
0.82
0.40
1.49
35
1
1.15
0.52
0.87 .
. 1.37
0.60
2:57
70
1
1.11
0.43
1.12
1.56
0.67
2.94
35
0
0.81*
0.44
1.50
1.36
0.59
2.32
70
0
0.85
0.45
1.94
1.53
0.60
I
2.65
L.S.D.
5%
0.22
0.07
0.13
0.20
N.S.
0.16

1%
0.31
N.S.
0.18
0.30
N.S.
0.22
59

-------
TABLE 22
EFFECTS OF COMPOST ON N-P-K CONTENTS OF OAT PLANTS -
GROWING IN PHOSPHATE SAND TAILINGS
Compost 10-10-10	1968-169 (%)	1969-'70(%)
Tons/ha—

N
P
K
N
P
K
0
1
0.66
0.38
1.07
0.65
0.33
1.47
35
1
0.87
0.42
0.97
0.75
0.34
1.37
70
1
0.93
0.47
0.95
0.83
0.32
1.28
35
0
-
-
-
1.07
0.45
1.25
70
0
-
-
-
1.10
0.41
1.24
L.S.D. 5%	0.12 0.03	N.S.	0.13 0.07 N.S.
1%	0.18 0.04	N.S.	0.19 0.08 N.S.
60

-------
TABLE 23
EFFECTS OF TREATMENT ON SOIL pH, P, K, Ca, AND Mg
IN PHOSPHATE MINE TAILINGS
r
Compost 10-10-10	pH	P	K	Ca	Mg
	Tons/ha-



	PPm—


0
1
6:5
V
5
235
14
35
1
6.6
k2
9
261
16
70
1
6.6
k2
8
324
15
35
0
6.5
ko
8
300
18
70
0
6.5

9
2^5
16
L.S.D.
-
N.S.
5
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.

-
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
61

-------
TABLE 24
EFFECTS OF TREATMENT ON SOIL CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY
AND MOISTURE RETENTION IN PHOSPHATE MINE TAILINGS
Compost
10-10-10
C.E.C.

Soil
Moisture(%)


Tons/ha
meg/10og
Field*
0.10atm
0.33atm.
15 atm
0
1
0.65
3.54
2.17
1.29
1.34
35
1
0.92
4.05
2.62
1.43
1.22
70
1
1.20
3.74
2.70
1.36
1.23
35
0
0.91
3.72
2.17
1.51
1.43
70
0
1.02
4.03
2.61
1.61
1.57
L.S.D.
5%
0.24
0.29
N.S.
0.21
0.24

1%
0.34
0.40
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
+ Moisture measurements were made on undisturbed cores in metal tubes 3 cm long
and 5.4 cm inside diameter.
* Soil sampled 2 days after about 2.5 cm of rain.
62

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