Renovation of a pear orchard site with sludge compost

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00103628609367781· OSTI ID:6833109

Korcak, R F

A lime-stabilized sewage sludge compost was used as a surface amendment to improve the soil and nutritional status of a number of established pear cultivars grown on an acidic, low fertility soil site. Leaf Ca status was significantly increased while trace metals were not elevated and in most cases decreased by sludge compost over the course of the study. Soil chemical properties were modified in a manner similar to liming. Addition of sludge composts, particularly low metal containing materials, appears to represent an acceptable aid in renovating established pear orchards located on poor soil sites. Leaf, fruit flesh or peel Cd were not significantly effected by the compost addition. The compost added twice the recommended level of available N the first year and sub-optimum N the following two years. Leaf N, although significantly increased in the composted versus non-composted controls, was below sufficiency levels by the third year after addition. This indicates that compost cannot fully supply required N from a one time application even over the short term.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD
• OSTI ID: 6833109
• Journal Information: Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal.; (United States), Journal Name: Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal.; (United States) Vol. 17:11; ISSN CSOSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CADMIUM
CALCIUM
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOOD
FRUIT TREES
FRUITS
GROWTH
METALS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEARS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SOILS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TREES
WASTES