Fen plant biomass as growing media constituent – reduction of nitrogen immobilization by composting

Hartung, C.; Meinken, E.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2021.1317.11

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The N min concentration in the bark composts (10-20 mg N/L) and woody composts (10-80 mg N/L) were significantly lower (p = 0.0004) than for the VFG composts (250-1070 mg N/L), with intermediate values for the green composts (10-230 mg N/L). There was a clear differentiation in the range of the suitability scores for use in growing media between VFG compost (5-9), green compost (5-10), bark compost (11)(12)(13)(14), wood fiber (9-13) and woody compost (9-10). In summary, there were no significant differences in characteristics between the woody composts, VFG composts or green composts except for the lower N min concentrations in the woody composts versus the VFG composts, while the scores for use in growing media for the woody composts were in the higher range compared with the other two types of compost.…”

Section: Step 1: Microbial Biomass and Activity And Net N Release Of ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These fibers can also affect the microbiological activity and nutrient availability in growing media [11]. By composting chopped fen plant biomass, Hartung and Meinken [12] reported a reduction in the risk of N immobilization, but also a significant mass reduction. When designing blends containing alternatives for peat and coir, a balance must be struck between the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative materials, with attention given to the effect of compost production methods.…”

Section: Introduction 1new Materials In Growing Media Blendsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainable Growing Media Blends with Woody Green Composts: Optimizing the N Release with Organic Fertilizers and Interaction with Microbial Biomass

Vandecasteele¹,

Loo²,

Ommeslag³

et al. 2022

Agronomy

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The aim of the current study was to create a high quality growing medium blend that replaces 70 vol% peat with 40 vol% woody green compost and 30 vol% bark compost and organic fertilizers (i.e., blood meal and chitin), all locally sourced. A range of “woody composts”, i.e., green composts based on feedstock selection with mainly woody material from tree prunings, were produced for this purpose at green compost facilities. First, the woody composts were characterized chemically and biologically, including their microbial biomass and net N release. In comparison with regular green composts or vegetable, fruit and garden (VFG) waste composts, woody composts are more suitable for use in growing media due to their lower pH, EC and inorganic C content; however, the woody compost had a low N mineralization rate. Three types of composts supported a higher microbial biomass than wood fiber or bark compost. The additional mineral N release after 100 days for compost mixed with blood meal was tested for different VFG and green composts. A significantly higher additional net N release was measured for composts with higher initial mineral N concentrations (317 mg Nmin/L) as well as VFG composts (417 mg Nmin/L) than for green composts with a lower initial mineral N concentration (148 mg Nmin/L). In a last step, woody compost, bark compost, wood fiber, coir and peat were mixed in different ratios, resulting in six blends ranging from 100% peat-free to100% peat. Two batches of woody compost were compared, and the blends were mixed with blood meal or chitin. A strong effect of both the organic fertilizer and the blend composition on the mineral N release was observed, with a clear link between the microbial biomass and the net N release. There was a significant negative correlation between the net change in microbial biomass and the net N release (R = −0.85), which implies that a larger increase in microbial biomass during incubation with the organic fertilizer resulted in less N mineralization. The blends containing woody compost scored better for nitrification activity, as the NH4-N concentrations were lower in these than for the blends without woody compost. For the peat blends, no effect on the microbial biomass was observed after addition of organic fertilizers; mineral N did increase, however. Woody composts have the potential to be used in high vol% in growing media blends, but the blends still need further optimization when supplemented with organic fertilizers.

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Section: Step 1: Microbial Biomass and Activity And Net N Release Of ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction 1new Materials In Growing Media Blendsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Growing Media Blends with Woody Green Composts: Optimizing the N Release with Organic Fertilizers and Interaction with Microbial Biomass

Vandecasteele¹,

Loo²,

Ommeslag³

et al. 2022

Agronomy

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show abstract

Oxygen uptake rate versus CO2 based respiration rate for assessment of the biological stability of peat, plant fibers and woody materials with high C:N ratio versus composts

Vandecasteele¹

2023

Waste Management

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Fen plant biomass as growing media constituent – cultivation ofPelargonium zonaleandBegonia×hiemalisin peat reduced mixtures with composted fen plant biomass

Hartung¹,

Meinken²

2021

Acta Hortic.

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Fen plant biomass as growing media constituent – reduction of nitrogen immobilization by composting

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 publications

Sustainable Growing Media Blends with Woody Green Composts: Optimizing the N Release with Organic Fertilizers and Interaction with Microbial Biomass

Sustainable Growing Media Blends with Woody Green Composts: Optimizing the N Release with Organic Fertilizers and Interaction with Microbial Biomass

Oxygen uptake rate versus CO2 based respiration rate for assessment of the biological stability of peat, plant fibers and woody materials with high C:N ratio versus composts

Fen plant biomass as growing media constituent – cultivation ofPelargonium zonaleandBegonia×hiemalisin peat reduced mixtures with composted fen plant biomass

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