Experiences with the utilization of wastes in nursery potting mixes and as field soil amendments

Abstract

The nursery/landscape industry has been one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in Canada. Since 1980s, the Ornamental Nursery Research Program at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario (HRIO) has been conducting research which focuses on environmentally friendly production practices. Emphasis is on the use of composted or uncomposted organic wastes as amendments in container potting mixes. Various projects have evaluated mixes derived from wastes such as spent mushroom compost, paper mill sludge, apple pomace, and various types of barks. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the scope of the research expanded to include composting and a wider assortment of wastes such as waxed corrugated cardboard, municipal solid waste compost, wood chips from pallets and furniture and demolition wastes, food wastes, and organic fertilizers manufactured from meat by-products, and selected industrial wastes. Presently, paper mill sludge is being evaluated as field soil amendment for growing nursery shade trees and also for use in rehabilitating marginal, non-agricultural land. Key words: Waste recycling, land rehabilitation, composts, organic wastes, container culture, shade tree culture, ornamentals, nutrition