Articles
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF REPEATED APPLICATION OF THE SAME ORGANIC MATERIAL TO SOIL IN A HORTICULTURAL CONTEXT
Article number
1076_16
Pages
143 – 150
Language
English
Abstract
For professional and amateur horticulturalists, good management of soil organic matter is absolutely critical to successful plant production.
Maintaining a healthy level of soil organic matter aids nutrient provision, water management and has a number of benefits in terms of climate change (e.g., potential for sequestering carbon). The objective of this experiment was to examine the effects on soil properties and plant response of repeatedly applying the same form of organic material.
A long-term experiment was established at the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley (UK). Eighty 3 m x 3 m plots were established using eight replicates of 10 treatments.
Applications of composted bark, composted horse manure, peat, composted bracken, spent mushroom compost, green compost (two application rates) and three different control treatments were applied annually.
A different ornamental plant was grown annually.
In year one, no organic matter was applied in order to establish baseline data for the site.
After five years of organic matter application changes in soil pH were evident.
Peat and bark significantly reduced the pH (P<0.01) in contrast to green compost, horse manure and spent mushroom compost which increased soil pH (P<0.01). All forms of organic matter application significantly (P<0.01) reduced bulk density compared to the control treatments.
By year five both peat and bark yielded significantly lower (P<0.01) dry biomass production than both green compost applications, and bark yielded significantly lower (P<0.01) than horse manure and spent mushroom compost.
To date, the results illustrate that different materials can have significantly different effects on soil chemical and physical properties as well as the resultant plant yield and suggest the type of organic matter should be considered before application.
Maintaining a healthy level of soil organic matter aids nutrient provision, water management and has a number of benefits in terms of climate change (e.g., potential for sequestering carbon). The objective of this experiment was to examine the effects on soil properties and plant response of repeatedly applying the same form of organic material.
A long-term experiment was established at the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley (UK). Eighty 3 m x 3 m plots were established using eight replicates of 10 treatments.
Applications of composted bark, composted horse manure, peat, composted bracken, spent mushroom compost, green compost (two application rates) and three different control treatments were applied annually.
A different ornamental plant was grown annually.
In year one, no organic matter was applied in order to establish baseline data for the site.
After five years of organic matter application changes in soil pH were evident.
Peat and bark significantly reduced the pH (P<0.01) in contrast to green compost, horse manure and spent mushroom compost which increased soil pH (P<0.01). All forms of organic matter application significantly (P<0.01) reduced bulk density compared to the control treatments.
By year five both peat and bark yielded significantly lower (P<0.01) dry biomass production than both green compost applications, and bark yielded significantly lower (P<0.01) than horse manure and spent mushroom compost.
To date, the results illustrate that different materials can have significantly different effects on soil chemical and physical properties as well as the resultant plant yield and suggest the type of organic matter should be considered before application.
Authors
P.D. Alexander, I.M. Nevison
Keywords
pH, bulk density, composted bark, composted horse manure, peat, composted bracken, spent mushroom compost, green compost
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