Boron Release From Town Refuse Compost as Measured By Sequential Plant Uptake

Abstract

The effect of applied town refuse compost, either alone or supplemented with different mineral fertilizers, on sequential boron uptake by ryegrass, under greenhouse conditions was determined. The experiment included 19 treatments: soil alone (T), two treatments containing soil + mineral fertilizers mixtures, soil + compost (C) at 60 t ha-1 and 15 treatments including soil + compost + different individual or combined mineral complements of N, P, K and S. Four harvests of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. c.v. Argo) were carried out. Application of compost alone to soil caused an increase, especially during the second, third and fourth harvests, both in the boron concentration and in boron plant uptake, although no toxic effects were observed. The ability of town refuse to make boron available is reduced by mineral fertilizers additions. This fact could turn out to be extremely useful in avoiding the possible toxic effect of boron which might be caused by the application of large doses of compost.