Potential of Fish Pond Sediments Composts as Organic Fertilizers

Abstract

AbstractIncreased fish pond production is associated with the generation of various waste including fish pond sediments. Fish pond sediments could be a valuable source of nutrients for growing plants, however they require further processing in order to be applied to soil. Composting is considered one of the methods for processing fish pond sediments. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of organic fish pond sediments to be managed through laboratory composting with selected waste materials and evaluate the fertilizing potential of the obtained compost. The scope included: (1) analysis of organic fish pond sediments, (2) laboratory composting of organic fish pond sediments with wheat straw and green grass, (3) analysis of the obtained composts, (4) preparation of growing media with selected additives, (5) analysis of the properties of the prepared growing media and (6) analysis of the effect of the investigated growing media on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in pot experiments. The addition of cardboard waste and woodchips derived biochar to the obtained compost improved significantly the growth of the roots of Cardamine L. Also, the content of carbon and nitrogen in the compost mixtures increased. The addition of M1 (compost from organic fish pond sediments and 1% of biochar) to the soil had a significant impact on the growth of white beans. Graphic Abstract