SUITABILITY OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF MATURITY IN VEGETABLE CROP PRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost as a source of organic matter in a medium for container plant cultivation and field production. In two experiments, conducted at the Agricultural University of Wroclaw in 1994–1995, the suitability of MSW compost at various stages of maturity was tested. In a pot experiment, fresh or 1, 3 and 9 months old compost was used at 0, 100 or 400 t ha^-1. In a field study the suitability of a twelve month old compost applied at rates of 30, 60 and 120 t ha^-1 was determined with butterhead lettuce as a forecrop, and white head cabbage as the main crop.

Nine month old MSW compost was a valuable component of the medium for plant cultivation while the less mature composts reduced plant stands and final yield of lettuce. In field production only 120 t ha^-1 was a sufficient source of N for growth and yield of cabbage. For lettuce this fertilization resulted in a lower yield then where nitrogen fertilization at the rate of 70 kg N ha^-1 was used. The contents of Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr in edible parts of both species supplied with MSW compost were similar to the unfertilized treatment.