Effects of organic amendments on soil physico-chemical and biological properties

The effects of three concentrations (40, 80 and 120 t/ha) of farm manure and compost made from household wastes on the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of soil with a long use history was evaluated. The results showed that both organic amendments type increased significantly (P 0.05) the organic carbon and nitrogen contents in a dose-dependant manner, with the effects being more pronounced for the compost made from household wastes. As a consequence of the increased organic matter in treated soils, a significant improvement in the structural stability, permeability and the CO2 emission capacity was observed. These preliminary results showed the great potential of compost made from household wastes as organic and eco-friendly fertilizers and may be useful for the long-term management of the soil fertility.