Characterization of composts and organic wastes for nursery substrate formulation

Abstract

Present work aimed the physic-chemical and biological characterization of products obtained from composting of several organic wastes: sewage sludge produced at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) and, green waste from parks and gardens. A commercial sub­strate used at nursery plants was also characterized.

The compost that presented minor po­tentiality to be used on the formulation of substrates was compost produced from organic fraction of MSW due to its high values of pH and electrical conductivity, and low values of germination and growth indexes for Lepidum sativum; composts analysed that presented high potentiality to be used on the formulation of sub­strates were those that were produced from WWTP sewage sludge and from green wastes.