Manganese Binding by Municipal Waste Composts Used as Potting Media

Abstract

Abstract Queen palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana (Chamisso) Glassman) grown in several types of sewage sludge compost media developed severe Mn deficiency symptoms. Seventy of the symptoms was correlated with DTPA-extractable Mn levels in the media and with leaf Mn content, but not with total media Mn. Compost media tied up over 70% of Mn added to samples within one hour, versus 62% or less for a pine bark, sedge peat, and sand medium. Analysis of autoclaved media samples suggested that some of the Mn tie up in garbage and yard trash composts is caused by microorganisms, but microorganisms had little effect on the binding potential of sludge and manure composts.