[Compost - a valuable fertiliser and soil amendment]
1997
Frei Ming, U. | Candinas, T. | Besson, J.-M. (Eidg. Forschungsanstalt fuer Ageroekologie und Landbau, Liebefeld (Switzerland))
To formulate recommendations for the application of compost, the Swiss Federal Research Station for Agricultural Chemistry and Hygiene of the Environment at Liebefeld (Switzerland) (since 1 January 1996 Institute of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, IUL, Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, FAL) carried out field and pot experiments over several years. The effect of compost nutrients, particularly of nitrogen as an indicator of the short-term effect of compost, was of special interest. Compost proved to be a good phosphorus and potassium fertiliser. Nitrogen availability in the year of application, however, was low (-19 to +8 % of total N). Neither the quality of the compost (maturity, fineness of grind) nor the soil type had a noticeable influence on this result. Compost applied in spring and superficially incorporated into the topsoil showed the highest N availability. Compost simultaneously acts as a fertiliser and soil amendment. Accordingly, its nutrient content must be integrated into the nutrient balance
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