title: High-nitrogen compost as a medium for organic container-grown crops.
abstract: Compost was tested as a medium for organic container-grown crops. Nitrogen (N) loss during composting of separated cow manure (SCM) was minimized using high C/N (wheat straw, WS; grape marc, GM) or a slightly acidic (orange peels, OP) additives. N conservation values in the resultant composts were 82%, 95% and 98% for GM-SCM, OP-SCM and WS-SCM, respectively. Physical characteristics of the composts were compatible with use as growing media. The nutritional contribution of the composts was assessed using cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculantum Mill.) and by means of incubation experiments. Media were either unfertilized or fertilized with guano (sea-bird manure). Plant responses suggest that N availability is the main variable affecting growth. Unfertilized OP-SCM and WS-SCM supplied the N needed for at least 4 months of plant growth. Root-galling index (GI) of tomato roots and number of eggs of the nematode Meloidogyne javanica were reduced by the composts, with the highest reduction obtained by OP-SCM and WS-SCM, at 50% concentrations. These composts, but not peat, reduced the incidence of crown and root-rot disease in tomato as well as the population size of the causal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Horticulture, Agriculture Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel. mraviv@volcani.agri.gov.il
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raviv
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Jaacov
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katan
authors.forename: Yitzhak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hadar
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yogev
authors.forename: Shlomit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Arkady
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krasnovsky
authors.forename: Hammam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ziadna
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D009584:Nitrogen