Soil nitrogen dynamics and maize production in municipal solid waste amended soil

George N. Eriksen, Frank J. Coale, German A. Bollero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) can enhance soil organic matter and crop nutrient supply. High C:N ratio composts can temporarily deplete plant-available soil N reserves, requiring supplemental N fertilization to ensure optimum crop growth. The objective of our research was to measure seasonal soil NO3-N dynamics to serve as an indication of N mineralization, immobilization, and leaching as affected by MSWC and N fertilizer rates. The MSWC (C:N 40:1) was applied in one year only to a Galestown sand (sandy, siliceous, mesic Psammentic Hapludults) at rates of 0, 63, 126, and 189 Mg ha-1. Maize (Zea mays L.) was planted and N fertilizer rates of 0, 168, 336, 504, and 672 kg ha-1 were applied as split-plot treatments. First-year maize total dry matter production plateaued at the 250 kg ha-1 N rate, averaged across MSWC rates. Soil NO3-N decreased inversely proportional to MSWC rates, due to MSWC immobilization of soil and fertilizer N. Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) winter cover crop total dry matter yield and total crop N increased linearly with increasing MSWC rates. Second-year maize total dry matter, total plant N, maize grain yield, and grain N increased linearly with increased MSWC rates applied the first year. During the second growing season, there was an increasing supply of plant-available N, due to mineralization of organic N in the MSWC with increasing MSWC rate; however, the supply of mineralized N was inadequate to meet crop growth requirements for maximum maize yield.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1009-1016
Number of pages8
JournalAgronomy Journal
Volume91
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science

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