Application of a green manure and green manure composted with beet vinasse on soil restoration: effects on soil properties

Beet vinasse (BV), a green manure constituted by Trifolium pratense L. uncomposted (TP) and composted with beet vinasse (at 1:1 rate, (TP+BV)1, and 2:1 rate, (TP+BV)2) at 10t organic matter ha(-1) rate were applied during a period of four years for purpose of restoration of a Xelloric Calciorthid located near Seville (Guadalquivir Valley, Andalusia, Spain). The effect on the plant cover, soil physical (structural stability and bulk density), chemical (exchangeable sodium percentage), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration and enzymatic activities such as dehydrogenase, urease, beta-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase) were determined. The application of BV had a detrimental impact on soil physical (structural stability decreased 16.5% and bulk density increased 18.7% respect to the control soil), chemical (exchangeable sodium percentage increased 87.3% respect to the control soil), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration, and dehydrogenase, urease, beta-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities decreased by 53.5%, 24.5%, 27.8%, 15%, 39.7%, 42.7%, and 65.6%, respectively with respect to the control soil), probably because high quantities of monovalent cations (Na principally) were introduced into the soil by the vinasse, thus destabilizing its structure. The application of TP had a positive impact on soil physical (structural stability increased 5.9% and bulk density decreased 6.1% respect to the control soil), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration, and dehydrogenase, urease, beta-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities increased by 66.3%, 45.6%, 97.7%, 98.9%, 97.7%, 87.2%, and 89.4%, respectively with respect to the control soil). However, when BV was co-composted with a green manure, principally at a 2:1 rate, the resulting compost had a positive effect on soil physical (structural stability increased 10.5% and bulk density decreased 13.5% respect to the control soil), and biological properties (microbial biomass, soil respiration, and dehydrogenase, urease, beta-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities increased by 68.9%, 46.2%, 97.5%, 98.4%, 99.1%, 90.5% and 91.6%, respectively with respect to the control soil). After four years, the percentage of plant cover decreased 64.3% in the BV-amended plots respect to the control soil, whereas increased 82.8%, 81.6% and 81% in the (TP+BV)2, (TP+BV)1 and TP treatments, respectively. While the application of BV deteriorates the soil and therefore does not contribute to its restoration, the application of TP, and BV composted with TP protects the soil and will contribute to its restoration.     

Species identity and composition effects on community productivity in a subtropical forest

Biodiversity experiments have shown that high species richness increases productivity in forests. However, forests are diverse regarding community composition. It is unclear how species identity and species composition could contribute to the variation of productivity and how their effects interact with species richness. Here we used data from a 9-year-old planted forest experiment with 40 species to test the effects of species identity and species composition on productivity. The plots in the experiment were designed with various compositions across richness levels. We found that for the top 25 species compositions with the highest volume increment there were six monocultures (24%), eight 2-species mixtures (32%) and eleven 4-species mixtures (44%). Schima superba monoculture had the highest volume in the last study year and highest volume increment over five years, while 2-species and 4-species mixtures with Nyssa sinensis or Liquidambar formosana resulted in high average above-ground volume accumulation. Most of the high-productivity species were deciduous with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations. In addition, the percentage of AM species in plots had a positive significant effect on both above-ground volume in 2018 and increment from 2013 to 2018. While the percentage of evergreen species showed no significant effect on above-ground volume increment, it did significantly decrease the above-ground volume in 2018. Overall, our results encourage reforestation management to consider species identity and species compositions of deciduous and/or AM species, such as Schima superba, Nyssa sinensis or Liquidambar formosana in the studied subtropical area, if the purpose is to enhance ecosystem productivity.     

冰雪灾害对中亚热带人工针叶林净初级生产力的影响

结合中亚热带江西千烟洲人工针叶林2005、2008和2011年3次树木清查数据以及树木相对生长方程,比较了2008年1月南方冰雪灾害前后的NPP,评价了森林生态系统灾后的恢复能力。结果表明:乡土树种马尾松(Pinus massoniana)与杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)比外来树种湿地松(Pinus elliottii)抗灾害能力强;在个体水平上,胸径(D)较大的树木抗灾害能力较差。灾后马尾松与杉木的D增长率降低,而湿地松增大。冰雪灾害导致大量碳(10.44 t C/hm2)从乔木层碳库转移到死生物量碳库,占乔木层碳储量的18.28%。灾前NPP和碳利用效率(CUE)分别为736.23 g C m-2a-1和0.41;灾后经过近4年的恢复,NPP和CUE分别为683.08 g C m-2a-1和0.38。     

Contrasting effects of an invasive ant on a native and an invasive plant

When invasive species establish in new environments, they may disrupt existing or create new interactions with resident species. Understanding of the functioning of invaded ecosystems will benefit from careful investigation of resulting species-level interactions. We manipulated ant visitation to compare how invasive ant mutualisms affect two common plants, one native and one invasive, on a sub-tropical Indian Ocean island. Technomyrmex albipes, an introduced species, was the most common and abundant ant visitor to the plants. T. albipes were attracted to extrafloral nectaries on the invasive tree (Leucaena leucocephala) and deterred the plant’s primary herbivore, the Leucaena psyllid (Heteropsylla cubana). Ant exclusion from L. leucocephala resulted in decreased plant growth and seed production by 22% and 35%, respectively. In contrast, on the native shrub (Scaevola taccada), T. albipes frequently tended sap-sucking hemipterans, and ant exclusion resulted in 30% and 23% increases in growth and fruit production, respectively. Stable isotope analysis confirmed the more predacious and herbivorous diets of T. albipes on the invasive and native plants, respectively. Thus the ants’ interactions protect the invasive plant from its main herbivore while also exacerbating the effects of herbivores on the native plant. Ultimately, the negative effects on the native plant and positive effects on the invasive plant may work in concert to facilitate invasion by the invasive plant. Our findings underscore the importance of investigating facilitative interactions in a community context and the multiple and diverse interactions shaping novel ecosystems.     

Contrasting effects of invasive rabbits on endemic plants driving vegetation change in a subtropical alpine insular environment

Alpine ecosystems on islands are among the most isolated on Earth, leading to very high rates of endemism. Endemic species on oceanic islands are particularly vulnerable to invasive herbivores. In the alpine zone of Tenerife, which harbors a unique endemic flora, the dominance pattern of the two most dominant species in our days (Spartocytisus supranubius and Pterocephalus lasiospermus) has shifted in the last few decades, which may be a result of increasing rabbit pressure. In this study we explore how rabbits affect the population structure, soil nutrient composition and regeneration of our two target endemics within Teide National Park. For this purpose, we established 90 plots at 30 locations. Within 13 locations we sampled permanent exclosure plots that were established between 7 and 12 years before sampling, applying three treatments (full herbivory, rabbit herbivory and no herbivory). At one site we collected 80 soil samples to evaluate changes in soil chemistry and plant growth using a greenhouse experiment. Our results show that rabbits have a negative effect on the population structure of S. supranubius, while the contrary occurs with P. lasiospermus. Rabbit presence alters soil chemistry leading to a decline in nitrogen, which affects growth in both species. The presence of rabbits leads to a dominance shift in these two keystone endemic species, altering dominance patterns in the summit scrub of Tenerife. The decline of S. supranubius could represent the example of many endemic species of this system. Thus, we call for an immediate control of rabbit population (< 0.5 rabbits/ha) to protect this unique alpine endemic flora.     

亚热带山地草地退化系列上种群更新研究

从种子库,幼苗和种子雨等方面对亚热带山地草地退化系列上5种植物的种群更新进行了研究,结果表明：（1）引入种多年生黑麦草（Lolium perenne)和白三叶（Trifolium repens)种群在轻度和中度退化条件下能够正常更新,但不能忍受草地进一步的退化;（2）本地种对草地退化的胁迫表现出较强的承受能力。簇生卷耳（Cerastium caespitosum)、箭叶蓼（Polygonum sagittatum)和华蒲公英（Taraxacum sinicum)的种群更新分别在中度、重度和极度退化草地上处于最佳状态;（3）若要防治草地退化,就应当地引入种的种群更新受到抑制时采取有效措施。     

施用牛粪和绿肥对土地整治区玉米产量和土壤理化性质的影响

采用定位试验,研究了施用新鲜牛粪(15000和75000 kg·hm^-2)和绿肥(36000 kg·hm^-2)对玉米产量、土壤呼吸和土壤化学、物理性状的影响.结果表明: 与单施化肥相比,土地整治区施用牛粪的玉米籽粒增产7.2%～29.9%,千粒重增加2.5%～18.2%,活性有机碳和有机质含量分别增加5.3%～34.6%和8.0%～17.6%.施用绿肥的玉米籽粒增产10.8%～15.6%,千粒重增加4.5%～8.4%,活性有机碳含量增加14.1%～48.6%,在第二年土壤有机质含量增加了7.2%.施用牛粪和绿肥的土壤呼吸速率增加了20.0%～69.3%.施用牛粪和绿肥增加了土壤容重,减少了总孔隙度和毛管孔隙度,分别增加了＜0.01 mm和0.05～1 mm粒径团聚体的比例.连续2年在土地整治区施用牛粪和绿肥不仅能够增加玉米籽粒产量,而且已经对土壤物理化学性质的改善表现出积极的作用.     

亚热带季风区城市典型绿化屋顶的径流削减效应

屋顶绿化能够削减暴雨径流,降低城市内涝发生频率,促进可持续雨洪管理。针对亚热带季风气候区典型绿化屋顶的全年径流削减效应,以南京为研究区,以简易型、花园型两类绿化屋顶为研究对象,基于1年现场观测数据及水量平衡方程,分析屋顶雨水的滞蓄、蒸发与径流量随季节变化规律及其关键影响因子,采用SCS-CN模型计算绿化屋面的径流曲线数(CN),并估算城市尺度大面积屋顶绿化的暴雨径流削减效果。结果显示,简易型、花园型绿化屋顶全年径流削减率分别为42%和60.7%;径流削减效应的四季排序为春季冬季秋季夏季,平均径流削减率依次为78.6%、47.5%、33.2%、32.9%(简易型)及98%、84.3%、49.5%、48.1%(花园型);土壤基质层对雨水截留起主导作用,分别占径流削减总量的52%和62%;雨量和雨强是影响径流削减效应的关键因子,与径流削减率均呈显著负相关关系(P0.01),初始土壤湿度与简易型绿化屋顶的径流削减率呈显著负相关(0.01P0.05),但与花园型的径流削减率无显著相关性;基于全年77次降雨事件的降雨量-径流量数据测算得到简易型和花园型绿化屋顶的CN值分别为92和88;若南京主城区所有建筑屋顶面积的60%实施两类绿化,则其全年径流量可分别削减2.8×10~7 m~3和4.2×10~7 m~3。以上研究结果可为城市雨洪管理和海绵城市建设提供科学依据。     

Growth rhythms and productivity of a coastal subtropical eucalypt forest

Growth of plant parts in different species in Eucalyptus signata dominated forest in Queensland occurs at different times. Measurement of increments in root basal diameter combined with previously obtained regressions of root weight on root diameter allows separate estimation of the growth of woody root parts on a seasonal basis for the first time. The growth of lateral and of tap roots as well as of stems and leafy twigs, were separately measured on three tree species every 6 weeks for 2 years. Net primary productivity for the forest is estimated at 26 t ha^-1 yr^-1, of which 66% is aboveground production, and 78% is contributed by a single species. This productivity rate is unexpectedly high, and may reflect a growth stimulus due to release of nutrients following a recent fire.     

Effectiveness of Sesbania rostrata and Phaseolus calcaratus as green manure for upland rice grown in acidic soil

Two field experiments on green manuring were conducted under upland acidic soil (pH = 4.35) conditions with the following objectives: (1) to determine the influence of inoculation site, P fertilization, and liming on the biomass production, N content, N accumulation, and N availability of S. rostrata grown in an acidic soil, (2) to compare the effectiveness of S. rostrata, P. calcaratus and urea as N sources for upland rice as affected by liming and N source-sowing time combination, and (3) to assess the effect of liming and N source-sowing time combination on % Ndff (N derived from the fertilizer), % Ndfs (N derived from soil), % FNU (fertilizer N utilization), and FNY or fertilizer N yield (kg N ha^–1) of upland rice grown in acidic soil. At 2 weeks after incorporating S. rostrata (95 days after lime application), liming significantly increased N availability by more than 2-fold suggesting that the decomposition of S. rostrata by soil microflora was stimulated by lime. Liming, phosphorus application, and inoculation site improved significantly the dry biomass production, N content and N accumulation of S. rostrata; thus, enhancing its green manuring potential. Regardless of liming, S. rostrata whether applied at 0 week or 2 weeks before sowing was superior to urea in improving grain and straw yields. P. calcaratus when applied at 2 weeks before sowing also produced higher grain yield than urea. Immediate sowing of upland rice after green manure incorporation did not affect negatively the growth and development of upland rice; hence, farmers could save at least 2 weeks in their cropping calendar. N source-sowing time combination had a highly significant influence on % Ndff, % Ndfs, % FNU, N uptake, and fertilizer N yield of upland rice. However, only N uptake was influenced significantly by liming. The rice plant obtained significantly higher % Ndfs from the soils treated with green manure than those treated with urea regardless of liming. The % FNU and % Ndff from the green manures were 11-37% and 9-25%, respectively. These values are much lower than those obtained under continuously flooded soil conditions possibly because of the differences in the organic matter decomposer populations and N loss mechanisms between sloping upland conditions and continuously flooded conditions.     

Composted municipal waste effects on chemical properties of a Brazilian soil

The spread of composted municipal waste (CMW) on land can be used for sustainable crop production. Nevertheless, heavy metals availability may be a problem. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the impact of CMW disposal on heavy metal accumulation in soil and plants. The treatments consisted of an untreated plot (control) and four rates of CMW application. All plots were cultivated in succession of carrot, cauliflower, sweet corn, and radish. Cu and Pb significantly accumulated in the topsoil (0-5 cm) with a similar pattern in the depths of 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm. Cauliflower, for Fe and Cu, and radish, for Pb and Cu, had their tissue analysis significantly affected due to the increasing rates of application of CMW. Nevertheless, the levels of accumulation in both, soil and plant, are within permissible limits. The evidences provided by this experiment indicated that heavy metals are less likely to cause problems for the estimation of CMW loadings to Brazilian agricultural land.     

有机肥对石灰性土壤肥力属性的长期影响

用常规化学分析和差热分析方法研究了长期不同施肥模式下有机肥对土壤生态肥力的影响。结果表明,长期施用有机肥(厩肥、高秸处理)可显著提高土壤有机碳含量,其水散性G0复合体减少;水稳性G1、G2复合体增加,3种胶散复合体的有机碳含量提高,重组复合体中活性强的松结合态腐殖质较多。施入有机肥不仅可提高土壤有机无机复合体的总能量水平,而且也能提高复合体中松结态、稳结态、紧结态腐殖质的能态。高秸、厩肥处理的原土、重组、稳紧态复合体、紧结态复合体和3种胶散复合体焓变值较高,具有较高能态。施用有机肥的土壤全氮、全磷、重组磷及C/N比均呈提高趋势,pH值降低,其原土和重组复合体的阳离子交换量较高。     

Contrasting effects of habitat structure on the recruitment and mortality of an epibiotic macroalga

Field surveys over 2 years in contiguous beds of the seagrassesZostera capricorni andPosidonia australis showed that the green algaCodium duthieae was consistently more abundant inZ. capricorni than inP. australis. In 1 year, mature plants were also more abundant at the boundary between the seagrass beds than in either bed. Field experiments and programmes of sampling were used to investigate three potential explanations for the unusual distribution of this alga: (1) that the availability of substrata suitable for attachment of the alga differed between the two seagrass beds; (2) that mortality of matureC. duthieae differed between the seagrass beds; and/or (3) that the intensity of recruitment was different in the two seagrass beds.C. duthieae plants were exclusively epibionts of the bivalveAnadara trapezia. Detailed sampling showed that the abundance ofA. trapezia was similar in both seagrass beds and that the distribution of bivalves suitable as substrata forC. duthieae plants was not obviously related to proximity to the boundary between the beds. Two experiments investigated the survival ofC. duthieae plants in each bed. In the first, matureC. duthieae plants transplanted into theP. australis bed suffered similar rates of mortality to plants which were disturbed and moved within theZ. capricorni bed or which were left undisturbed in theZ. capricorni bed. Fewer of the host bivalves were recovered from theZ. capricorni bed, however, indicating that the mechanism of mortality differed between the beds, hosts being more frequently dislodged in theZ. capricorni bed. Removal of the leaves of the seagrasses had consistently greater effects on near-bottom current velocities in theZ. capricorni bed than in theP. australis bed and significantly increased mortality ofC. duthieae in theZ. capricorni bed. Survival of plants was greater in plots of artificial leaves ofP. australis placed in theZ. capricorni bed than in plots of the naturalZ. capricorni leaves or plots where the natural leaves were removed. Most mortality in theZ. capricorni bed was due to dislodgement of the alga and its bivalve substratum. Corresponding manipulations of leaves in theP. australis bed had consistently smaller effects on survivorship of both the alga and its host. Patterns in the recruitment of the alga most clearly reflected the distribution of adults.C. duthieae recruits were 5 times more abundant in theZ. capricorni bed and at the boundary between the two beds than in theP. australis bed. The results demonstrate how habitat structure, provided by the canopy of leaves of the two species of seagrass, can have contrasting effects on the recruitment and mortality of a macroalga. In the case ofC. duthieae, it appears that the differential pattern of recruitment is the primary determinant of the distribution of adult plants.     

豆科绿肥及施氮量对旱地麦田土壤主要肥力性状的影响

通过2a田间定位试验,研究渭北旱塬地区夏闲期插播并翻压不同豆科绿肥(长武怀豆、大豆和绿豆)以及小麦生长季不同施氮量(0,108,135,162 kg/hm2)对麦田土壤肥力性状的影响,以期为提高旱地土壤质量提供理论依据.试验结果表明:(1)种植豆科绿肥能显著提高土壤有机质、活性有机质和全氮含量,增加土壤碳库管理指数(CPMI),对土壤速效钾含量没有显著影响;(2)绿豆还田量高于长武怀豆和大豆,然而土壤培肥效果逊于长武怀豆和大豆;(3)夏闲期种植绿肥明显消耗了土壤水分,导致绿肥翻压前、小麦播前直至收获后,0-200 cm土壤贮水量显著低于休闲处理,但耗水量与休闲没有明显差异,由于小麦产量显著增加,因此豆科绿肥显著提高了水分生产效率;(4)与不施氮相比,小麦生长季施用氮肥能显著增加土壤水分生产效率,却对土壤各肥力性状的影响均不显著.夏闲期种植并翻压豆科绿肥是旱地培肥土壤、提高水分生产效率的有效途径.     

Modelling the effects of climate change on an acidic upland stream

Most modelling studies of soil and surface water recovery from acidification assume a constant influence of climate over the simulation period. Given the likelihood of future climate change, and recent identification of links between climatic fluctuations and surface water trends on decadal time scales, an attempt is made to simulate a number of climate-related effects on the recovery of an acidified stream in mid-Wales. Empirical relationships were derived to model past and future variations in (i) runoff, as a function of rainfall and temperature; (ii) stream chloride concentration and sea-salt deposition, as a function of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI); and (iii) stream dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, as a function of summer temperatures and sulphur deposition. Incorporating these relationships in the MAGIC dynamic model reproduced a significant part of the observed variation in streamwater chemistry. Current scenarios of rising UK temperature and NAOI, and falling rainfall and acid deposition, were used to forecast effects of climate change on soil and water recovery from acidification. Results suggest that increasing DOC would have a significant negative impact on soil recovery, with elevated organic acidity lowering soil water pH and severely depleting soil base saturation. The resulting increase in soil base cation export would, however, have a positive impact on streamwater recovery. For increased sea-salt deposition, effects are essentially the opposite; increased base cation inputs enhance the recovery of soil base saturation, but displace acidity to the stream. However, simulated effects of raising DOC considerably outweighed those of increased sea-salt deposition. It is argued that greater consideration of these, and other, climatic effects on biogeochemical cycles needs to be taken when predicting the recovery of soils and surface waters from acidification.     

The effects of olive mill waste compost and poultry manure on the availability and plant uptake of nutrients in a highly saline soil

The effects of a compost (produced from by-products of the olive oil industry) and a poultry manure on mineral ion solubility and exchangeability in a highly saline agricultural soil (electrical conductivity for a 1:5 soil:water extract=1.85 dS m(-1)) from Murcia (SE Spain) were studied. The organic amendments did not change significantly the soil electrical conductivity or the soluble Na(+), Ca(2+) or Mg(2+). Only soluble K(+) increased, due to the K(+) supplied by the amendments. The cation exchange capacity increased in treated soils, the exchange complex being mainly saturated with Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and K(+). However, Na(+) was not retained in the exchange sites, and the sodium absorption ratio remained low. The compost and manure increased markedly the shoot growth of the salt-tolerant Beta maritima L. (sea beet) and Beta vulgaris L. (sugar beet). For B. maritima, this seemed to be related to decreases in the shoot concentrations of Na(+) and Cl(-) and increases in K(+) and H(2)PO(4)(-). In the case of B. vulgaris, increases in shoot H(2)PO(4)(-) and B and, for manure-treated soil, a decrease in shoot Na(+) may have been involved. Cultivation of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Moneymaker) in the soil used previously for B. vulgaris indicated that the effects of the manure on tissue cation concentrations were longer-lasting than those of the compost.     

茶园间作不同绿肥对节肢动物群落结构和多样性的影响

【目的】研究在茶园中合理间作绿肥对茶园节肢动物群落结构和多样性的影响。【方法】本文在茶园中分别设间作铺地木兰+罗顿豆、圆叶决明+白三叶、白三叶+平托花生3种不同绿肥组合处理,并设不间作绿肥、常规除草的茶园为对照。【结果】间作不同绿肥均能提高茶园节肢动物群落的物种丰富度和群落多样性,提高茶园捕食性天敌昆虫、蜘蛛和寄生性天敌在茶园冠层群落的比率;不同处理茶园冠层节肢动物Shannon-wiener多样性指数(H)、Simpson指数(D)和均匀度指数变化趋势基本一致;茶冠层的节肢动物群落多样性指数在4类不同处理茶园间差异显著;间作绿肥增加了茶园的生物多样性,4类不同处理茶园茶冠层群落相似性系数在0.741~0.892之间,表明4类不同处理茶园冠层群落在物种组成上有较高的相似性。4类不同处理茶园害虫与天敌两类群功能团的丰盛度之间成显著的正相关,表明天敌对害虫的空间数量跟随效应强,主要表现为二者数量间的相互作用。灰色关联度分析表明在4类不同处理茶园中的群落节肢动物物种数/个体数、天敌物种数/害虫物种数、害虫丰富度与多样性指数和均匀度指数的关联系数较高,反应了群落的多样性和稳定性。【结论】间作增强了茶园群落的生物多样性,提高害虫天敌的种类和个体数,有利有效发挥天敌对有害生物的生态控制。     

The influence of earthworm-processed pig manure on the growth and productivity of marigolds.

The effects of additions of earthworm-processed pig manure (vermicompost) on the growth and productivity of French marigold (Tagetes patula) plants were evaluated under glasshouse conditions. Marigolds were germinated and grown in a standard commercial greenhouse container medium (Metro-Mix 360), substituted with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% (by volume) pig manure vermicompost. The control consisted of Metro-Mix 360 alone without vermicompost. Plants were supplied regularly with a complete mineral nutrient solution for 121 days. The greatest vegetative growth resulted from substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 30% and 40% pig manure vermicompost, and the lowest growth was in the potting mixtures containing 90% and 100% vermicompost. Most flower buds occurred in the potting mixtures containing 40% pig manure vermicompost (19.4 buds), and fewest in the potting mixtures containing 100% vermicompost. Marigolds grown in Metro-Mix 360 substituted with 90% and 100% pig manure vermicompost had the fewest and smallest flowers. After substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% vermicompost, the marigold roots were larger than those of plants grown in the Metro-Mix 360 controls. Substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with any concentration of pig manure vermicompost, with all needed nutrients provided, increased the overall nitrate-nitrogen concentrations of the marigold leaf tissues at flowering stage. Some of the marigold growth and productivity enhancement, resulting from substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with pig manure vermicompost, may be explained by nutritional factors; However, other, factors, such as plant-growth regulators and humates, might have also been involved since all plants were supplied regularly with all required nutrients.