Short-Term Chemical Changes in Sandy Soil Following Composted Solid Winery Waste Application and NPK Fertilisation under Swiss Chard Cultivation

Résumé

Soil fertility challenges, particularly for smallholder farmers, are often addressed with inorganic fertilisers, which can lead to soil degradation. This study investigates a sustainable alternative by comparing the short-term effects of NPK fertilisation and two different application rates of composted solid winery waste on sandy soil cultivated with Swiss chard. The study used a randomised complete block design with four treatments (control, NPK, lowrate composted solid winery waste, and high-rate composted solid winery waste). Soil samples were taken at bi-weekly intervals over eight weeks (4 intervals) to assess chemical properties, including pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and various exchangeable cations. The results showed that the NPK fertiliser provided a rapid but temporary increase in nutrients, and it also caused significant soil acidification and a decline in P availability. In contrast, the high-rate composted solid winery waste application effectively ameliorated soil pH (p<0.05) and provided a more gradual and sustained release of nutrients, particularly P and K, throughout the observation period. The low-rate composted solid winery waste was found to be insufficient to produce significant chemical changes. These findings demonstrate that utilising composted solid winery waste as a soil amendment, in the short term, is a more environmentally friendly approach than relying on inorganic fertilisers. This aligns with the principles of a circular economy and turns a waste product into a valuable resource for improving soil health and fertility.

Citer ce document

Accès au document

Texte intégral en lecture en ligne, réservé aux abonnés SPHAERO et aux membres de l'institution. Se connecter

Auteur(s)

Statistiques

Consultations : 1

Téléchargements : 0