Effects of compost on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) yield and soil biochemical properties

• Author(s): García-López, Ana M. ; Horta, Carmo
• Date: 2023
• Origin: Revista de Ciências Agrárias
• Subject(s): Geral
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: Portuguese

Description

Amended soils with compost produced from livestock effluents can increase soil fertility and crop productivity. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of the fertilization with a compost on the soil enzymatic activity and yield of a lettuce crop.  An experiment was carried out under field conditions with the following treatments: control without fertilization; mineral N fertilization with 85 kg N ha−1 (Ni85); fertilization with compost in pellets (CP170N) at N dose of 170 kg ha−1; fertilization with CP at N dose of 85 kg ha−1 together with mineral N at 42.5 kg ha-1(CP85N+Ni42.5). The fertilization increased the lettuce biomass compared with the control treatment; the pelletized compost showed similar yields (P >0.05) than those obtained with the mineral N fertilization. The acid phosphatase and the total microbial biomass increased significantly in the soils fertilized with CP170N treatment. However, the alkaline phosphatase and b-glucosidase were similar between the treatments. The acidic pH of the soil may have decreased the alkaline phosphatase activity. The application of the pelletized compost at a dose of 170 kg N ha-1 showed the best agronomic behavior regarding the lettuce yield, the soil microbial biomass and the acid phosphatase activity.

Amended soils with compost produced from livestock effluents can increase soil fertility and crop productivity. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of the fertilization with a compost on the soil enzymatic activity and yield of a lettuce crop.  An experiment was carried out under field conditions with the following treatments: control without fertilization; mineral N fertilization with 85 kg N ha−1 (Ni85); fertilization with compost in pellets (CP170N) at N dose of 170 kg ha−1; fertilization with CP at N dose of 85 kg ha−1 together with mineral N at 42.5 kg ha-1(CP85N+Ni42.5). The fertilization increased the lettuce biomass compared with the control treatment; the pelletized compost showed similar yields (P >0.05) than those obtained with the mineral N fertilization. The acid phosphatase and the total microbial biomass increased significantly in the soils fertilized with CP170N treatment. However, the alkaline phosphatase and b-glucosidase were similar between the treatments. The acidic pH of the soil may have decreased the alkaline phosphatase activity. The application of the pelletized compost at a dose of 170 kg N ha-1 showed the best agronomic behavior regarding the lettuce yield, the soil microbial biomass and the acid phosphatase activity.

Suelos enmendados con compost producido a partir de efluentes de ganado pueden aumentar la fertilidad del suelo y la productividad de los cultivos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la fertilización con compost sobre la actividad enzimática del suelo y el rendimiento de un cultivo de lechuga. Se realizó un experimento en condiciones de campo con los siguientes tratamientos: testigo sin fertilización; fertilización mineral N con 85 kg N ha−1 (Ni85); fertilización con compost en pellets (CP170N) a dosis de N de 170 kg ha−1; fertilización con CP a una dosis de N de 85 kg ha−1 junto con N mineral a 42.5 kg ha-1 (CP85N+Ni42.5). La fertilización incrementó la biomasa de lechuga en comparación con el tratamiento testigo; el compost peletizado mostró rendimientos similares (P >0.05) a los obtenidos con la fertilización con N mineral. La fosfatasa ácida y la biomasa microbiana total aumentaron significativamente en los suelos fertilizados con el tratamiento CP170N. Sin embargo, la fosfatasa alcalina y la β-glucosidasa fueron similares entre los tratamientos. El pH ácido del suelo puede haber disminuido la fosfatasa alcalina. La aplicación de compost peletizado a la dosis de 170 kg N ha-1 mostró el mejor comportamiento agronómico en cuanto al rendimiento de la lechuga, la biomasa microbiana del suelo y la actividad de la fosfatasa ácida.