Effects of composting on phytotoxicity of spent pig-manure sawdust litter

doi:10.1016/S0269-7491(96)00052-8

Environmental Pollution

Volume 93, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 249-256

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(96)00052-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

The phytotoxicity of spent pig-manure sawdust litter (spent litter) was evaluated during further composting. Aqueous extracts of the spent litter were prepared by shaking the sample with water (1:10 w/v), and the toxicity of these extracts was determined on relative seed germination, relative root elongation and germination index (GI, a factor of relative seed germination and relative root elongation). The sensitivity of six plant species, namely Brassica parachinensis (Chinese cabbage), Brassica albogalera (Chinese kale), Allium sativum (onion), Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Amaranthus espinosus (Chinese spinach), and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) were compared. The effect of different moisture levels during composting on the phytotoxicity of the spent litter was also examined. Phytotoxicity of the spent litter was only evident during the earlier stage of composting (first 14 days) and, that seed germination and root elongation reached 100% (same as the control) towards the end of the composting. The concentrations of the major inhibitors, water-extractable Cu and Zn, and NH₄⁺-N of the spent litter, declined during composting, indicating that these inhibitors were gradually eliminated as composting proceeded. Multiple regression analysis showed that the NH₄⁺-N content of the spent litter was the most important chemical factor affecting phytotoxicity of the plant species selected for this study. Relative root elongation and GI were more sensitive indicators of phytotoxicity than seed germination. In the present study, the GI's of all plant species were >80% at day 60, indicating that the spent litter had reached its maturation by day 60. The responses of different plant species to the water-extracts of the spent litter were different. Among the six species, Chinese cabbage and Chinese spinach were the most sensitive species, and tomato and cucumber were the least sensitive species to indicate phytotoxicity of the spent litter. Moisture adjustment during the composting process did not affect the results of the phytotoxicity test.

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Environmental Pollution

Abstract

References (28)

Changes of chemical components and nitrogen transformation in water extracts during composting of garbage

J. Ferment. Technol.

Root and shoot elongation as an assessment of heavy metal toxicity and ‘Zn equivalent value’ of edible crops.

Hydrobiol.

Evaluation of heavy metals during stabilization of organic matter in compost produced with municipal solid wastes

Bioresource Technology.

Seed Germination and Root Elongation

Chemical changes in sludge stabilisation

BioCycle

Copper supplementation of pig diets: The effect of protein level and zinc supplementation on the response of added copper

Anim. Prod.

New approaches to compost maturity

BioCycle

Phytotoxicity of olive tree in relation to organic acid concentration

Biol. Wastes

Evolutionary processes in populations of copper tolerant Agrostis tenuis Sibth

Evolution Lancaster

Toxicity of decomposing crop residues to cotton germination and seedling growth

Agron. J.

Biodegradation of solid wastes by composting

Aeration-induced changes in liquid digested sewage sludge

Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.

Methods for the evaluation of the maturity of municipal refuse compost

Germination injury due to free ammonia

Chem. Abst. Japan

Cited by (353)

Combined impacts of bioaugmentation and vermiremediation on crude oil-contaminated soil: Mitigating strategies for prospective environmental management

Predicting maturity and identifying key factors in organic waste composting using machine learning models

Assessing the phytotoxicity of wastewater from the structured-bed hybrid baffled reactor (SBHBR) for agricultural reuse during the germination phase

Composting of post-consumption food waste enhanced by bioaugmentation with microbial consortium

Agro-industrial by-products as alternative additives for the agronomic valorization of pig slurry through pH modification

Microbial and physico-chemical dynamics associated with chicken feather compost preparation vis-à-vis its impact on the growth performance of tomato crop