Using Time-to-Event Model in Seed Germination Test to Evaluate Maturity during Cow Dung Composting

Yuan Luo (), Xiangzhuo Meng, Yuan Liu, Kokyo Oh and Hongyan Cheng ()
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Yuan Luo: College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
Xiangzhuo Meng: College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
Yuan Liu: College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
Kokyo Oh: Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, Kazo 347-0115, Japan
Hongyan Cheng: College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: Maturity is a matter of concern for the utilization of livestock manures after composting because of the phytotoxicity of immature compost. The seed germination test is widely used for evaluating the maturity of compost. However, the process of seed germination was not studied by establishing a model for evaluating the maturity. Here, we established a time-to-event model for the data of germination proportion over time in a seed germination test with cow dung compost at different composting times. Results show that the profile of the seed germination proportion over time for Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa L.) and garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) were both well described by the model. Seed germination was delayed in composts at the early stage of composting from parameter t 50 (half germination time) of the model. Parameter t 50 was significantly negatively related to radicle length (RL), which indicated that there is an organic relationship between seed germination (i.e., radicle emergence) and radicle elongation. In conclusion, the immature compost can hinder seed radicle elongation by delaying seed germination.

Keywords: compost maturity; phytotoxicity; time-to-event model; half germination time; radicle length (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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