Municipal Solid Waste Compost Application Improves the Negative Impact of Saline Soil in Two Forage Species

Abstract

Inappropriate utilization of biosolids may adversely impact agrosystem productivity. This article addresses the response of H. vulgare and P. monspeliensis to different doses (0, 100, and 150 t ha⁻¹) of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost in a greenhouse pot experiment. Plant growth, heavy-metal uptake, gas exchange, and photosynthetic pigment concentrations and photosynthesis parameters were considered. Results showed that compost supply significantly increased shoot and root dry weights of both species, and this was positively correlated with nutrient uptake. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were positively influenced, especially in H. vulgare at rate of 100 t ha⁻¹. Furthermore, MSW compost application increased net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (Gs), and water-use efficiency (WUE) in both species. Alternatively, MSW compost amendment increased plant heavy-metal contents but levels remained lower than phytotoxic thresholds. This preliminary study suggests that a MSW supply at moderate doses (100 t ha⁻¹) could be highly beneficial for plant productivity on saline soils.

Keywords:

• Heavy metals
• MSW compost
• nutrient status
• photosynthesis
• photosynthetic pigments

Acknowledgments

Part of this work was carried out at the Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla (Spain). The authors gratefully acknowledge the personnel of the laboratories and Seville University Glasshouse General Service for collaboration.

Funding

This work had been done as part of a National Research Project and financially supported by the Tunisian Ministry of High Education, Scientific Research, and Technology.