Abstract

ARRIGO, Nilda M et al. Pruning waste and its potential use as amendement to agricultural soil. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2005, vol.23, n.1, pp.87-92. ISSN 1850-2067.

Land application of organic materials is a common practice in sustainable agriculture. Our aim was i) to study the effect of the incorporation of organic material at different maturity stages on the ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) growth, and ii) to estimate the stage capable to produce the product more efficient in providing nitrogen to the plant nutrition. Four compost samples consisted of pruning waste, leaves and grass clippings were selected from four different piles at different stages of the composting process: initial non-decomposed material, 2 months old at the end of the bio-oxidative stage, 7 months old during the maturation phase, and 12 months old at the end of the maturation phase. These compost samples were used to ryegrass growing assays, and they were also added to a clay silty soil. Dry matter values were lower in T1 and T2 than in T3 and T4.Similar results were quantified when the same materials were incorporated to a soil. Nitrogen leaf content revealed that soil N immobilization had ocurred in T1 and T2 treatments. A compost, which had 7 months old during the maturation phase, did not cause any negative effect on the evaluated parameters. This compost seems to be sufficiently stable and its use would save time in compost process, compared with a compost 12 months old.

Keywords : Pruning waste; Composting; N absorption; Ryegrass.

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