Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Agronomic performance of experimental fertilizers on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) in organic farming

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In organic farming, soil application of processed agro-industrial by-products could sustain soil fertility for vegetables, which have short cropping cycles. Therefore, the objectives of this 2-year research on organic spinach crop were to assess the productive performance of different experimental fertilizers, the effects on soil fertility, and investigate the dynamics of some soil properties and the N balance. Two types of olive pomace mixtures, with a different initial C/N ratio, were composted and both stopped at the active phase (A1 and B1) and processed until maturation (A2 and B2). Also an anaerobic digestate (DA), and the B2 applied as amendment (B2A) were studied. The four composts, DA, and B2A were compared with a commercial organic fertilizer (Org), and a control (N0). The Org resulted as not sustainable in maintaining soil fertility in the long-term, mainly due to reduction in the soil of total organic carbon by 32 %, compared to the average of the other treatments. Conversely, choosing stage of maturity and adequate C/N of starting mixtures was among the best practices for compost use in spinach crop. The great content of nutrients (N and K higher by 102 and 86 % than Org, respectively), and N surplus (1431 kg ha−1) in the B2A plots would suggest that they could accumulate after subsequent soil applications, with the risk of losses in the environment. The DA appeared to be the most suitable fertilizer to get a favorable trade-off among yield, quality and N-use efficiency, when applied according to best agronomic practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

OPC:

Olive pomace compost

A1:

Compost, from mixture with a high C/N ratio, stopped at the active phase

A2:

Compost, from mixture with a high C/N ratio, processed until maturation

B1:

Compost, from mixture with lower C/N ratio, stopped at the active phase

B2:

Compost, from mixture with lower C/N ratio, processed until maturation

B2A:

B2 applied as amendment

DA:

Anaerobic digestate based on wine distillery waste water

N0:

Unfertilized control

Org:

Organic commercial fertilizer

DOC:

Dissolved organic carbon

NUE:

N utilization efficiency index

References

  • Albiach R, Canet R, Pomares F, Ingelmo F (2001) Organic matter components and aggregate stability after the application of different amendments to a horticultural soil. Bioresour Technol 76(2):125–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alburquerque JA, de la Fuente C, Bernal MP (2012a) Chemical properties of anaerobic digestates affecting C and N dynamics in amended soils. Agric Ecosyst Environ 160:15–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alburquerque JA, de la Fuente C, Campoy M, Carrasco L, Nájera I, Baixauli C, Caravaca F, Roldán A, Cegarra J, Bernal MP (2012b) Agricultural use of digestate for horticultural crop production and improvement of soil properties. Eur J Agron 43:119–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfano G, Belli C, Lustrato G, Ranalli G (2008) Pile composting of two-phase centrifuged olive husk residues: technical solutions and quality of cured compost. Bioresour Technol 99:4694–4701

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Altieri R, Esposito A (2010) Evaluation of the fertilizing effect of olive mill waste compost in short-term crops. Int Biodeteroir Biodegrad 64:124–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amlinger F, Götz B, Dreher P, Geszti J, Weissteiner C (2003) Nitrogen in biowaste and yard waste compost: dynamics of mobilization and availability—a review. Eur J Soil Biol 39:107–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal MP, Navarro AF, Sánchez-Monedero MA, Roig A, Cegarra J (1998) Influence of sewage sludge compost stability and maturity on carbon and nitrogen mineralization in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 30:305–313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bremner JM, Mulvaney CS (1982) Total nitrogen. In: Page AL (ed) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2, 2nd edn. Agron. Monogr. 9. ASA and SSSA, Madison WI, pp 595–624

  • Buchanan M (2012) Compost maturity and nitrogen release characteristics in central coast vegetable production. Wong B (ed), California Integrated Waste Management Board

  • Canali S, Diacono M, Ciaccia C, Masetti O, Tittarelli F, Montemurro F (2014) Alternative strategies for nitrogen fertilization of overwinter processing spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) in Southern Italy. Eur J Agron 54:47–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cayuela ML, Sánchez-Monedero MA, Roig A (2010) Two-phase olive mill waste composting: enhancement of the composting rate and compost quality by grape stalks addition. Biodegradation 21:465–473

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Contantinides M, Fownes JH (1994) Nitrogen mineralization from leaves and litter of tropical plants: relationship to nitrogen, lignin and soluble polyphenol to nitrogen, lignin and soluble polyphenol concentrations. Soil Biol Biochem 26:49–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Decree n.75, 29/04/2010 “Riordino e revisione della disciplina in materia di fertilizzanti, a norma dell’articolo 13 della legge 7 luglio 2009, n. 88”. G.U. n. 121 26/05/2010 (in Italian)

  • Diacono M, Montemurro F (2011) Long-term effects of organic amendments on soil fertility. In: Lichtfouse E, Hamelin M, Navarrete M, Debaeke P (eds) Sustainable agriculture, vol 2, pp 761–786. ISBN: 978-94-007-0393-3

  • Diacono M, Ferri D, Ciaccia C, Tittarelli F, Ceglie F, Verrastro V, Ventrella D, Vitti C, Montemurro F (2012) Bioassays and application of olive pomace compost on emmer: effects on yields and soil properties in organic farming. Acta Agric Scand B Soil Plant Sci 62:510–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen GN, Coale FJ, Bollero GA (1999) Soil nitrogen dynamics and maize production in municipal solid waste amended soil. Agron J 91:1009–1016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregorich EG, Beare MH, Stoklas U, St-Georges P (2003) Biodegradability of soluble organic matter in maize-cropped soils. Geoderma 113(3–4):237–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen A, Selmer-Olsen AR (1970) Automatic methods for determining nitrate and nitrite in water and soil extracts. Analyst 95:514–518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Insam H, de Bertoldi M (2007) Microbiology of the composting process. In: Diaz LF, de Bertoldi M, Bidlingmaier W, Stentiford E (eds) Compost science and technology, Waste management series, vol 8. Elsevier Ltd., pp 26–45. ISBN-13: 978-0-08-043960-0

  • Krom MD (1980) Spectrophotometric determination of ammonia: a study of a modified Berthelot reaction using salicylate and dichloroisocyanurate. Analyst 105:305–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu E, Yan C, Mei X, Zhang Y, Fan T (2013) Long-term effect of manure and fertilizer on soil organic carbon pools in dryland farming in northwest china. PLoS One 8(2):e56536. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056536

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maeder P, Fliessbach A, Dubois D, Gunst L, Fried P, Niggli U (2002) Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296(5573):1694–1697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mary B, Recous S, Darwls D, Robin D (1996) Interactions between decomposition of plant residues and nitrogen cycling in soils. Plant Soil 181:71–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard AA (2005) Low rates of compost increase vegetable yields. BioCycle 11:46–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra SG, Tiwari SD, Mani D (1995) Response of sludge with mussoorie rock phosphate on the biomass and heavy metal uptake by spinach. Curr Agric 19:59–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Möller K, Müller T (2012) Effects of anaerobic digestion on digestate nutrient availability and crop growth: a review. Eng Life Sci 12(3):242–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro F, Ferri D, Convertini G (2004) Mill wastewater and olive pomace compost as amendments for rye-grass. Agronomie 24:481–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro F, Convertini G, Ferri D, Maiorana M (2005) MSW compost application on tomato crops in Mediterranean conditions: effects on agronomic performance and nitrogen utilization. Compost Sci Util 13(4):234–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro F, Maiorana M, Convertini G, Ferri D (2006) Compost organic amendments in fodder crops: effects on yield, nitrogen utilization and soil characteristics. Compost Sci Util 14:114–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro F, Convertini G, Ferri D (2007) Nitrogen application in winter wheat grown in Mediterranean conditions: effects on nitrogen uptake, utilization efficiency and soil nitrogen deficit. J Plant Nutr 30(10):1681–1703

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro F, Canali S, Convertini G, Ferri D, Tittarelli F, Vitti C (2008) Anaerobic digestates application on fodder crops: effects on plant and soil. Agrochimica 52(5):297–312

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro F, Diacono M, Vitti C, Debiase G (2009) Biodegradation of olive husk mixed with other agricultural wastes. Bioresour Technol 100:2969–2973

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro F, Vitti C, Diacono M, Canali S, Tittarelli F, Ferri D (2010) A three-year field anaerobic digestates application: effects on fodder crops performance and soil properties. Fresen Environ Bull 19(9b):2087–2093

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller ND, Gerber JS, Johnston M, Ray DK, Ramankutty N, Foley JA (2012) Closing yield gaps through nutrient and water management. Nature 490(7419):254–257

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niaounakis M, Halvadakis CP (2006) Olive processing waste management. Literature Review and Patent Survey, 2nd edn. Waste management series, vol 5. Elsevier Ltd

  • Page AL, Miller RH, Keeny DR (1982) Methods of soil analysis, part II, 2nd edn. Am. Soc. Agron, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramana S, Biswas AK, Singh AB, Yadava RBR (2002) Relative efficacy of distillery effluents on growth, nitrogen fixation and yield of groundnut. Bioresour Technol 81(2):117–121

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roig A, Cayuela ML, Sánchez-Monedero MA (2006) An overview on olive mill wastes and their valorisation methods. Waste Manag 26:960–969

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santamaria P, Elia A, Serio F (2002) Effect of solution nitrogen concentration on yield, leaf elemental content and water and nitrogen use efficiency of three hydroponically-grown rocket salad genotypes. J Plant Nutr 25(2):245–259

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc. (2012) SAS/STAT software release 9.3 (Cary, NC, USA)

  • Sellami F, Jarboui R, Hachicha S, Medhioub K, Ammar E (2008) Co-composting of oil exhausted olive-cake, poultry manure and industrial residues of agro-food activity for soil amendment. Bioresour Technol 99:1177–1188

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silveira MLA (2005) Dissolved organic carbon and bioavailability of N and P as indicators of soil quality. Sci Agric (Piracicaba, Braz.) 62(5):502–508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff (1999) Soil taxonomy. A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. Agriculture Handbook 436, USDA.-NRCS. Washington DC

  • Sorin T, Tanaka Y (1991) The use of organic matter for vegetable cultivation under a paddy-upland rotation system. 1. Organic and inorganic components of several types of organic matter and the effects of their decomposition products on growth of spinach. Nara Agric Exp Sta Bull 22:49–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorup-Kristensen K, Dresbøll DB, Kristensen HL (2012) Crop yield, root growth, and nutrient dynamics in a conventional and three organic cropping systems with different levels of external inputs and N re-cycling through fertility building crops. Eur J Agron 37:66–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toscano P, Casacchia T, Diacono M, Montemurro F (2013) Composted olive mill by-products: compost characterization and application on olive orchards. J Agric Sci Technol 15:627–638

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO FAO (1963) Bioclimatic map of the Mediterranean zone. UNESCO, Place de Fontanay, Paris, FAO, Viale di Caracalla, Rome, NS162/III, 22A

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research has been supported by Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, in the framework of the CONSSABIO (Compost di qualità per la conservazione del suolo e la sostenibilità delle produzioni in agricoltura biologica) research project (DM 297/7303/06).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit for Cropping Systems in Dry Environments (Azienda Sperimentale Metaponto), Consiglio per la Ricerca e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria – CRA-SCA, SS 106 Jonica, km 448.2, 75010, Metaponto, MT, Italy

    Francesco Montemurro

  2. Research Centre for the Soil–Plant System, Consiglio per la Ricerca e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria – CRA-RPS, Rome, Italy

    Fabio Tittarelli

  3. Research Unit for the Study of Cropping Systems, Consiglio per la Ricerca e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria – CRA-SSC, Metaponto, MT, Italy

    Ornella Lopedota

  4. CIHEAM – MAIB, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Valenzano, BA, Italy

    Vincenzo Verrastro

  5. Research Unit for Cropping Systems in Dry Environments, Consiglio per la Ricerca e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria – CRA-SCA, Bari, Italy

    Mariangela Diacono

Authors
  1. Francesco Montemurro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fabio Tittarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ornella Lopedota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vincenzo Verrastro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mariangela Diacono
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariangela Diacono.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 28 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Montemurro, F., Tittarelli, F., Lopedota, O. et al. Agronomic performance of experimental fertilizers on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) in organic farming. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 102, 227–241 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9691-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9691-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation