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Organic amendments stabilized (compost) are a sustainable alternative to inorganic fertilizers, achieving similar yields in fruit, vegetable and dry crops and enhancing biodiversity and water retention capacity of the soil, according to a doctoral thesis recently read in the University Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT).
Researchers from the Centre for Soil Science and Applied Biology Segura (CEBAS-CSIC) have conducted experiments in greenhouses and agricultural lands of Murcia and Albacete demonstrating that proper management of waste from animal and vegetable crop yields achieved similar to traditional fertilizers and even improves the quality of products like lettuce, the content of nitrates in the leaves is lower using the compost.
Low in nitrates is important because they are transformed into nitrites, and carcinogens responsible for blood diseases.
The thesis Chocano Vañó Carmen, directed by Carlos Garcia Izquierdo and Maria Teresa Fernandez Hernandez inside the doctorate program of advanced techniques in food and agricultural research and development (TAIDA) UPCT evaluates various alternative farming practices to protect soils and increase the crop yields.
"The goal is to improve soil sustainability and quality of crops in semi-arid environments through the enhancement of organic waste in the form of amendments reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers," explains the author.
"Mediterranean soils have salinity problems and shortage of organic matter and microorganisms regenerate it," argues Chocano.
"The use of inorganic fertilizers as mere inputs of nutrients has been reduced microbial biodiversity and pollution problems triggered" she adds.
Against these conventional, and in combination with them practices, the thesis proposes to value organic waste, making agricultural resource, to increase efficiency and sustainability of crops while the microbiological properties of the soil and improve the ability of water retention, essential before recurrent droughts.
Source: UPCT
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