Differential effects of composts on properties of soils with different textures

Although the beneficial effects of compost on soil properties are well known, there are few systematic studies comparing the effects of composts on soils of different textures. The aim of this pot study was to assess the effects of a single application as mulch of two types of composts derived from different feedstocks, namely C1 (from garden waste) and C2 (from agricultural residues and manures) on three soils with different clay contents (46%, 22% and 13%, hereafter referred to as S46, S22 and S13) in terms of their physical, chemical and biological properties as well as on plant growth and nutrient uptake. The composts were placed as 2.5-cm-thick mulch layer on the soil surface, and wheat plants were grown for 35 days and to grain filling (70 days). The composts reduced the soil pH by 0.3-0.7 units, slightly increased total organic C, but increased soil electrical conductivity compared to unamended soil. Soil respiration was significantly higher in S13 than S46 in all treatments after 5 weeks. At grain filling, soil respiration was higher in S13 than in the other two soils and higher with C2 than with C1 and in the non-amended soil. The addition of compost significantly increased soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) in S22 and S46, but not in S13 which also had the lowest CEC among the soils. C2 increased the available P concentration and macro-aggregate stability in all soils compared to C1 and the unamended soil. Compost addition increased available N in S46 and S22 compared to the unamended soil with a stronger effect by C1. Both composts increased wheat growth and shoot P concentrations with the effect of C2 being greater than that of C1. It is concluded that the effect of composts varies with soil type as well as compost type and that this interaction needs to be taken into account when composts are applied to improve specific soil properties.