title: Delayed nutrient application affects mineralisation rate during composting of plant residues.
abstract: The hypothesis that delayed addition of nutrient rich material to compost would influence the mineralisation pattern was investigated by studying N turnover in compost based on wheat straw and clover-grass hay. After 712 weeks of composting almost twice as much N was mineralised when the addition of some of the N-rich clover-grass hay was postponed, suggesting that this influenced the microbial succession. The delayed addition resulted in a second temperature peak and a decline in the pH. Despite the altered conditions no significant effect was observed on the weight loss or loss of C and N. In conclusion, compost processes can in a simple way be affected by delayed substrate application leading to a higher nutrient availability without altering other parameters significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Kirstinebjergvej 10, DK-5792 Aarslev, Denmark. dorte.dresboll@agrsci.dk
authors.forename: Dorte Bodin
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dresbøll
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thorup-Kristensen
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016014:Linear Models; D029902:Medicago; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D014908:Triticum; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen