Evaluation of Field-Applied Fresh Composts for Production of Sod Crops

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Abstract
Application of compost to cropland potentially can use large quantities of compost and serve as an alternative to waste disposal into landfills. This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of field-applied composts of mixed municipal solid wastes, biosolids, leaves, and agricultural wastes for production of wildflower and grass sods. The composts were applied one inch thick on the soil surface. In half the plots, the composts were left on the surface as a mulch and in the other half, composts were worked into the top two inches of soil. The effects of the composts on wildflower, grass, and weed germination and growth and on wildflower diversity and flowering were investigated for two growing seasons. Wildflower and grass quality did not differ whether the composts were applied as a mulch or incorporated into the soil. In the first year, limited growth in apparently immature biosolids-woodchips and mixed MSW composts was attributed to high concentrations of ammonium or soluble salts. The detrimental effects of biosolids-woodchips compost which had high initial ammonium-N concentrations remained into the second season. In the first season, N from composts or fertilizers stimulated weed growth and resulted in poor crop quality. In the second season, crops had a competitive edge over the weeds, and N from the compost improved crop quality. Wildflower diversity and total amount of bloom improved as the N status of the media increased. Weed control and mature compost with readily available N and low soluble salt concentrations are required for high crop quality in the first season.