Effect of Municipal Solid Waste Compost on Yield, Plant Growth and Nutrient Elements in Strawberry Cultivation

Abstract

In terms of sustainable economic activities, environmental and production costs of plant nutrition material in agricultural production and wastes that harm the environment, humans and living beings are two important problems. This study, which combines these two problems into a common denominator, aimed to obtain plant nutrition input with low environmental and production costs by using the wastes generated during the domestic consumption process in strawberry cultivation. Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) for plant nutrition input and an Albion strawberry variety as a trial plant were used as research materials. In the study, where the random block trial design method was used, the effects of MSWC on plant growth, fruit quality characteristics and plant nutrient parameters were investigated. According to the results of the study, it was concluded that the examined parameters (number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit taste, macro and micronutrient content in plant leaves) were positively affected according to the rate of use of MSWC. In the parameters evaluated within the scope of the study, 4 tons of MSWC applications in fruit weight, stem number, root length, plant width, leaf area, K and Ca parameters; 1.2 tons of MSWC applications in the number of fruits per plant and TA parameters; all MSWC applications in fruit yield per plant, pH, plant height, N, Mn and Cu parameters; 2 tons of MSWC applications in the TSS parameter and 1, 2 and 4 tons of MSWC applications in P and number of leaves per plant parameters gave better results compared to the control. Research findings support the idea that the use of MSWC as a plant nutrition input will provide both the production of plant nutrition input with low environmental and production costs and the prevention of the harms of waste to the environment, humans and living creatures.