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Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste Compost in Horticulture UTILIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST IN HORTICULTURE Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this dissertation is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This dissertation does not include proprietary or classified information. Wenliang Lu Certificate of Approval: 3 James S. Bannon Jeff L. Sibley, Chair Director, Outlying Units Alumni Professor Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Horticulture Charles H. Gilliam Yaoqi Zhang Professor Assistant Professor Horticulture Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Joe F. Pittman Interim Dean Graduate School UTILIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST IN HORTICULTURE Wenliang Lu A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Auburn, Alabama May 10, 2008 UTILIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST IN HORTICULTURE Wenliang Lu Permission is granted to Auburn University to make copies of this dissertation at its discretion, upon request of individuals or institutions and at their expense. The author reserves all publication rights. Signature of Author Date of Graduation iii DISSERTATION ABSTRACT UTILIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST IN HORTICULTURE Wenliang Lu Doctor of Philosophy, May 10, 2008 (M.S., Auburn University, 2003) 199 Typed Pages Directed by Jeff L. Sibley Composting of municipal solid waste (MSW) has long been considered an attractive waste management tool for effective reduction of waste volume and beneficial utilization of MSW compost (MSWC) can eventually turn waste into a resource. Horticultural applications are regarded as a high-end market of MSWC because the industry is in frequent need for high quality organic materials and is able to pay premium prices for various compost products. The historical, current, and future bark availability for horticultural use was quantitatively evaluated. With expected horticulture industry growth, increased demand of bark for other uses, and only a minor increase in the long term bark output, the total amount and share of bark to the horticulture market will likely decrease. This analysis indicates strong incentives to develop alternative substrate components, such as various organic waste composts. iv Utilization of a mixed MSWC as a substrate component in greenhouse and container nursery production was evaluated using 19 ornamental crops. Plant growth responded differently to substrates containing MSWC. In outdoor container production, 4 of 10 crops in substrates with 100% MSWC (in volume) grew equally to plants in non- amended pine bark (PB)-based substrates. Most plants (9 of 12) had similar growth in substrates with 75% MSWC than in the non-amended PB control. No plant growth was negatively affected by amendment of PB with MSWC at lower ratios (25% and 50% MSWC) and several species had better growth in substrates with 25% MSWC than in 100% PB and/or 100% MSWC. In greenhouse production, three of five ornamental crops had similar growth in MSWC-amended substrates than in PB alone. Growth responses to different irrigation levels and fertilization rates were not significantly affected by substrate amendment with MSWC. Under recommended fertilization rates, any growth contribution from nutrients in MSWC was likely minimal and occurred in a short period after potting. The effect of amending soil with the mixed MSWC on yield and heavy metal concentrations in edible parts of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) were investigated. Addition of MSWC increased okra yield and watermelon weights over non-amended plots. There were no differences among all treatments in heavy metal concentrations in okra pods, watermelon pulp, or watermelon juice. Overall, our studies indicate current use of MSWC by ongoing research to integrate MSWC into horticultural production systems is warranted. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Jeff Sibley, my major professor, for his guidance, support, and patience at every step of my completing this program. His role will always be the first appearing on my mind‟s radar whenever the Auburn chapter of my life flashes back. I also thank my committee members, Drs. James Bannon, Charles Gilliam, and Yaoqi Zhang for their assistance and time. Dr. Bannon is one of the kindest and most approachable person I‟ve known. Dr. Gilliam provided critical reviews on experimental designs and finished manuscripts. Dr. Zhang has been a teacher and friend who made me relaxed and encouraged. Appreciation is expressed to WastAway Service, McMinnville, TN, for financial and material provision. I appreciate the Center for Applied Nursery Research, Dearing, GA, Greene Hill Nursery, Waverly, AL, and North Alabama Horticulture Research Center, Cullman, AL for supporting multiple projects conducted in their facilities. This whole page won‟t be enough even I limit to a few words of thanks for each of my family members, but it‟s perfectly fine even I say nothing. Here is one BECAUSE: I started to understand my father when it was too late, but he won‟t blame me anything in his permanent peace. vi Style manual or journal used: HortScience Computer software used: Microsoft Office 2007; SAS for Windows v. 9.1 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... xiii I. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 2 Summary .................................................................................................................... 42 Significance ................................................................................................................ 43 Objectives ................................................................................................................... 44 Literature Cited .......................................................................................................... 45 II. ESTIMATION OF U.S. BARK GENERATION AND IMPLICATIONS TO THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRIES .......................................................................... 77 Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 77 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................... 83 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................... 85 Literature Cited .......................................................................................................... 89 III. EVALUATION OF MIXED MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST AS PINE BARK AMENDMENT IN CONTAINER NURSERY PLANT PRODUCTION .... 98 Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 98 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................. 101 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................. 105 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................ 110 viii IV. UTILIZATION OF MIXED MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST AS SOILLESS POTTING COMPONENT IN GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION OF FOUR FLORICULTURAL CROPS ........................................................................ 120 Abstract .................................................................................................................... 120 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................. 124 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................. 127 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................ 132 V. IRRIGATION AND FERTILIZATION RATES ON GROWTH RESPONSE OF ORNAMENTAL CROPS TO MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST SUBSTRATES ......................................................................................................... 140 Abstract .................................................................................................................... 140 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................. 143 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................. 146 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................ 152 VI. MIXED MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST AS A SOIL AMENDMENT ON YIELD AND HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION IN OKRA AND WATERMELON ..................................................................................................... 161 Abstract .................................................................................................................... 161 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................
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