Effect of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Compost Tea as Fertility Amendments on Growth and Tissue Element Concentration in Container-Grown Tomato

Abstract

Evaluation of fertility sources for certified organic greenhouse vegetable production is necessary for further industry growth. Two experiments tested the effects of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) and water extract tea made from it on potted greenhouse tomatoes. The first used MSWC alone (two levels) and soil tea drench alone (three application frequencies). The second used MSWC and tea in factorial combination at three levels (0, 1×, and 2×). The greatest yield and leaf tissue potassium (K) were obtained using the greatest level combinations of compost and foliar tea spray, and this was significantly greater than conventional nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizer yield. Tissue magnesium (Mg) was affected by compost because of the antagonism from compost K. Tea increased tissue sodium (Na). No significant differences in heavy-metal tissue concentrations were found between treatments. While MSWC is an effective soil fertility amendment, the benefits of using tea may be increased with more frequent application.

Keywords:

• Compost tea
• leaf nutrients
• Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.
• MSW compost
• organic
• soil fertility

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council and research funds provided by Coastal BioAgresearch Ltd. The authors also thank Dr. Derek Lynch for the use of his laboratory facilities.