title: Evaluation of dredged sediment co-composted with green waste as plant growing media assessed by eco-toxicological tests, plant growth and microbial community structure.
abstract: Dredged sediments have currently no broad reuse options as compared to other wastes due to their peculiar physico-chemical properties, posing problems for the management of the large volumes of sediments dredged worldwide. In this study we evaluated the performance of sediment (S) co-composted with green waste (GW) as growing medium for ornamental plants. Analysis of the microbial community structure, eco-toxicological tests, were conducted on sediments at 1:1 and 3:1S:GW composting ratios. Sediment-based growing media were then reused to growth the ornamental plant Photina x fraseri in a pilot-scale experiment and plants' physiological and chemical parameters were measured. The results showed that co-composting with green waste increased the diversity of bacteria, fungi and archaea as compared to the untreated sediments, and that both the 1:1 and 3:1 S:GW composted sediments had no substantial eco-toxicological impacts, allowing an excellent plant growth. We concluded that co-composted of sediment with green waste produce a growing medium with suitable properties for growing ornamental plants, and represent a sustainable option for beneficial use of dredged sediments.
authors.affiliation: DiSPAA-Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy. Electronic address: mattei.paola@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.affiliation: CREA ABP-Agrobiology and Pedology Research Centre, Piazza M. D'Azeglio 30, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pastorelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Micheli 1, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rami
authors.affiliation: CREA ABP-Agrobiology and Pedology Research Centre, Piazza M. D'Azeglio 30, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mocali
authors.affiliation: DiSPAA-Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giagnoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Micheli 1, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonnelli
authors.affiliation: DiSPAA-Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Renella
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D044822:Biodiversity; D000076282:Composting; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D046936:Photinia / Q000254:growth & development*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D063245:Plant Development; D012987:Soil; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Co-composting; Dredged sediments; Eco-toxicity; Green waste; Plant growing media