Impact of Kiwifruit Waste Compost on Soil Bacteriome and Lettuce Growth

Paulo Fernandes (), Rui Pinto, Cláudia Correia, Isabel Mourão, Luísa Moura and Luís Miguel Brito
Additional contact information
Paulo Fernandes: Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Avenida do Atlântico, 4900-348 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Rui Pinto: CISAS—Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Cláudia Correia: Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, R. D. Mendo Afonso, 147, Refóios, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal
Isabel Mourão: Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, R. D. Mendo Afonso, 147, Refóios, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal
Luísa Moura: CISAS—Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Luís Miguel Brito: CISAS—Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Composts produced with kiwifruit waste from the calibration process (KW), mixed with 5%, 10%, and 20% wheat straw (WS), were evaluated as crop fertilizers through a pot experiment with lettuce, arranged as a randomized block design. Highest lettuce yields were achieved with 20 and 40 t·ha −1 5%WS compost and 40 t·ha −1 10%WS compost, suggesting that the physical characteristics of the composts increased soil water holding capacity and root growth, whereas chemical characteristics such as pH, organic matter, and nutrient contents contributed to improving soil reaction and nutrient availability. The type of soil amendment used influenced the development of different bacterial consortia in the bulk soil and rhizosphere, leading to increased levels of potentially beneficial bacteria and enhanced levels of relevant functions for plant growth, such as nitrogen fixation. Composted KW as an organic amendment can be used to improve soil quality and the circular economy.

Keywords: bacteria; composting; nitrogen; soil organic amendment; wheat straw (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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