Chemical composition of fresh and composted urban waste

Chemical, spectroscopic (IR and NMR), and molecular characteristics of humus extracted from urban waste before and after compositing are reported. The main differences are in the contents of acidic groups and straight aliphatic chains which diminish in the composted material. In comparing humus characteristics of composted urban waste and soils, the only real difference was found in the elution curves on Sephadex G-100, where the ratio of 100,000 and 1,300 peaks was higher in the compost than in the soil curve. The finding suggests that this ratio is a parameter that could enable us, even if in a semiquantitative manner, to follow the humification process of the compost when its addition to the soil is not less than the autochthonous organic matter content.Research work supported by CNR, Italy, Special grant I.P.R.A.-Sub-project 1. Paper N. 1531.     

Improvement of antioxidant and defense properties of Tomato (var. Pusa Rohini) by application of bioaugmented compost

Nutrient management practices play a significant role in improving the nutritional quality of tomato. The present study deals with the evaluation of compost prepared using Effective Microorganisms (EM), on antioxidant and defense enzyme activities of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). A field experiment with five treatments (control, chemical fertilizer and EM compost alone and in combination) was conducted in randomized block design. An increment of 31.83% in tomato yield was recorded with the combined use of EM compost and half recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (N₅₀P₃₀K₂₅ + EM compost at the rate of 5 t ha⁻¹). Similarly, fruit quality was improved in terms of lycopene content (35.52%), antioxidant activity (24–63%) and defense enzymes activity (11–54%), in tomatoes in this treatment as compared to the application of recommended dose of fertilizers. Soil microbiological parameters also exhibited an increase of 7–31% in the enzyme activities in this treatment. Significant correlation among fruit quality parameters with soil microbiological activities reveals the positive impact of EM compost which may be adopted as an eco-friendly strategy for production of high quality edible products.     

EDTA-assisted phytoextraction of heavy metals by turfgrass from municipal solid waste compost using permeable barriers and associated potential leaching risk

A column experiment with horizontal permeable barriers was conducted to investigate phytoextraction of heavy metals by Lolium perenne L. from municipal solid waste compost following EDTA application, as well as to study the effects of L. perenne and permeable barriers on preventing metal from leaching. In columns with barriers, EDTA addition yielded maximum concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb of 155, 541 and 33.5 mg kg⁻¹ in shoot, respectively. This led to 4.2, 2.1 and 7.4 times higher concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb compared to treatment with no chelating agent, respectively. In treatments with 10 mmol kg⁻¹ EDTA, the barriers reduced leaching of Cu, Zn and Pb by approximately three times, respectively, resulting in leaching of total initial Cu, Zn and Pb by 27.3%, 25.2% and 28.8%, respectively, after four times’ irrigation. These results indicate that L. perenne and permeable barriers are effective to reduce leaching of heavy metals and minimize the risk of contaminating groundwater in EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation. Thus these findings highlight that turfgrass and permeable barriers can effectively prevent metal leaching.     

Validation of thermal composting process using olive mill solid waste for industrial scale cultivation of Agaricus bisporus

The production of a substrate containing destoned olive mill solid waste for the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach on an industrial scale was studied. A standard mushroom compost (C) mainly made from straw and poultry manure was compared with the experimental compost (EC) containing the same ingredients as (C) but with added olive mill solid waste (10.6% w/w). Microbial indicators such as counts of heterotrophic microbes and actinomycetes were higher in EC than in C. In addition, compost selectivity as indicated by higher mushroom yield and biological efficiency of EC was higher than that of C. Market quality of the mushrooms produced in both C and EC were comparable. These findings support our work that olive mill solid waste can be used safely in thermal composting process to produce a selective substrate for industrial-scale cultivation of A. bisporus. This study also demonstrates an environmentally sustainable system to manage solid waste from olive oil extraction processes thus overcoming environmental pollution brought about by irrational disposal of the waste on farm lands.     

Characterization of composted olive mill wastes to predict potential plant disease suppressiveness

Despite its proven agronomic value, the plant disease suppressive effect of composts from olive waste has not been adequately investigated. In the present study, the disease suppressive potential of two olive waste (OW) composts against soil-borne plant pathogens was investigated. Both OW composts showed sizeable, active microbial populations, which were able to grow actively on chitin and cellulose. In plate inhibition trials, OW compost water extracts (CWEs) exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of the pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol), Pythium ultimum, Phytophtora infestans, Sclerotina sclerotiorum and Verticillium dahliae; and in pot experiments, the OW composts significantly reduced P. ultimum damping-off and Fol wilt diseases on tomato seedlings. The disease suppressive effect of OW composts seems to be due to the combined effects of suppression phenomena caused by the presence of microorganisms competing for both nutrients and space as well as by the activity of specific antagonistic microorganisms.     

微生物菌剂在农业废弃物堆肥腐熟过程中的应用及其田间试验效果

以农村生活垃圾中的可堆肥腐熟成分和蘑菇渣为堆肥原料,通过添加微生物菌剂进行堆肥试验,研究其在农业废弃物堆肥腐熟过程中的作用,并通过田间试验研究堆肥腐熟后肥料样品对黄瓜和青椒的增产效果,以验证其肥效。结果表明添加微生物菌剂有助于堆肥腐熟后样品的氮、磷、钾的保全和有机质的增加,促进养分均衡。添加微生物菌剂的堆肥腐熟肥料样品在田间试验中对黄瓜和青椒的增产效果最为显著,分别为22.21%和19.87%。     

微生物菌剂对草坪植物高羊茅生长与土壤酶活性的影响

从生活垃圾堆肥中分离出放线菌、枯草芽孢杆菌和苏云金芽孢杆菌,通过形态学和染色鉴定,分别以微生物单菌剂施入到草坪土壤基质中,研究了几种微生物菌剂对高羊茅生长与土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:3种微生物菌剂处理可以显著提高高羊茅株高、生物量和叶绿素含量(P0.01或P0.05),促进了高羊茅的生长。同时,施加不同的微生物菌剂对于土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性均有显著的增强作用,其中放线菌处理土壤脲酶和多酚氧化酶分别是对照的8.38倍和20.6倍。因此,从堆肥中得到的3种微生物菌剂均可有效提高土壤酶活性,改善植物根际微生态环境,提高了土壤肥力和养分的利用率,促进了草坪植物生长,改善草坪质量。该研究可为微生物菌剂在草坪建植体系中的应用提供依据。     

Initial soil amendments still affect plant community composition after nine years in succession on a heavy metal contaminated mountainside

Many efforts to restore disturbed landscapes seek to meet ecological goals over timescales from decades to centuries. It is thus crucial to know how different actions available to restoration practitioners may affect ecosystems in the long term, yet few such data exist. Here, we test the effects of seed and compost applications on plant community composition 9 years after their application, by taking advantage of a well‐controlled restoration experiment on a mountainside severely degraded by over 80 years of zinc smelting emissions. We asked whether plots have converged on similar plant communities regardless of initial seed and compost treatments, or if these initial treatments have given rise to lasting differences in whole plant communities or in the richness and abundance of native, exotic, and planted species. We found that compost types significantly affected plant communities 9 years later, but seed mix species composition did not. Observed differences in species richness and vegetative cover were negatively correlated, and both were related to the differences in plant communities associated with different compost types. These observed differences are due primarily to the number and abundance of species not in original seed mixes, of which notably many are native. Our results underscore the importance of soils in shaping the aboveground composition of ecosystems. Differences in soil characteristics can affect plant diversity and cover, which are both common restoration targets. Even in highly polluted and devegetated sites, compost and seed application can reinstate high vegetative cover and allow continued colonization of native species.     

真菌降解木质素研究进展及在好氧堆肥中的研究展望

综述了近十年来真菌降解木质素的研究进展,包括木质素的存在与结构,真菌降解木质素生物学、酶系及作用机理、生理学以及在环境工程中应用方面的研究进展,并对好氧堆肥处理城市垃圾中木质素生物降解的研究作了展望 。