Abstract
The effect of a sewage sludge based compost as a substrate component on the growth and nutrient status of two containerised tree seedlings (Pinus pinea L. and Pinus pinaster Ait.) was evaluated. Compost was mixed with a sphagnum peat at rates of 25, 50, 75 and 100% by volume and no additional fertilisation was applied. A control treatment consisting of 100% sphagnum peat and 3.5 g.L−1 of a controlled release fertiliser was used. Seedling and harvesting were carried out in March and October 1997, respectively. Plant growth increased with increasing doses of compost up to 50%. In fact, an increase of the total dry weight, plant height and diameter of the colar was observed. On the contrary, additions of compost greater than 75% led to a growth reduction. Despite this fact, plant growth in all compost treatments was always lower than in control treatment with fertilisation. The growth reduction that occurred in the 75% and, mainly, in the 100% compost treatments is likely a consequence of water stress since the available water (v.v−1) of these substrates (13% and 5%, respectively) was quite low. The 50% compost treatment seems to supply all P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn and Mn needed for satisfactory plant growth. In addition, compost shows a liming effect, that is important when the basic substrate is acid.
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© 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Ribeiro, H., Ribeiro, D., Vasconcelos, E., Cabral, F., Louro, V., dos Santos, J. (1999). Evaluation of a sewage sludge based compost for the production of container tree seedlings. In: Anac, D., Martin-PrÉvel, P. (eds) Improved Crop Quality by Nutrient Management. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 86. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-37449-9_41
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-37449-9_41
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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