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[Display omitted] • Garden waste compost produces significant amounts of N 2 O during production. • N 2 O emissions from three compost-based biocover systems were 11–33 gCO 2 -eq m−2 d-1. • CH 4 oxidised in the three biocover systems was 502–1461 gCO 2 -eq m−2 d-1. • N 2 O emissions were insignificant (max. 2.3%) compared to the CH 4 mitigated by oxidation. Landfills constitute a significant source of methane (CH 4), thereby contributing to climate change. CH 4 emissions from old and smaller landfills can be mitigated by compost-based biocover systems designed for optimal microbial CH 4 oxidation. It is well-known that the strong greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is generated during the composting process, which potentially could continue after incorporating compost into the biocover system. Field studies were performed at three full-scale biocover systems established at Danish landfills and included surface screenings, surface flux measurements and gas composition analysis. To assess if N 2 O generated in the biofilter-compost material would hamper the climate benefit from CH 4 oxidised in a biofilter, CH 4 removed was compared to N 2 O generated, with both calculated in CO 2 -eq. Two assessments were performed. The first considered individual measurement locations on the biocover, whereas the second considered the overall performance of the biocover. By comparing CH 4 oxidation rates to the emitted N 2 O, both approaches showed that there is no risk that N 2 O emission will negatively affect the CH 4 mitigation efficiency of compost-based biocover systems established at landfills. The ratio of N 2 O emitted to CH 4 oxidized (both in unit kg CO 2 -eq per day) was less than 2.3% for both approaches, and in most cases below 1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to assess the bioaccumulation capacity of the Buddleja species and Schinus molle L. using organic amendments to the phytoremediation of total chromium in the mid-zone of the Añashuayco Ravine, Uchumayo, Arequipa, impacted by tanneries from the Rio Seco Industrial Park. Additionally, it analyzed total chromium concentrations, soil physicochemical properties, and morphological changes in plants with and without organic matter. Samples of the Buddleja species and Schinus molle L. were distributed into groups with and without compost, along with control groups. They were monitored over 6 months, every 60 days, showing significant morphological variations. The results highlight an important finding: the remarkable bioaccumulation capacity of the species studied all exceeded 30%. The samples without compost showed a lower percentage of total chromium bioaccumulation in plants compared to the samples with the organic amendment. The Buddleja species demonstrated a 39.01% chromium bioaccumulation with compost compared to 37.99% without it. Likewise, Schinus molle L. achieved 33.99% chromium accumulation with compost and 31.84% without it. These findings emphasize the superior ability of these species to bioaccumulate heavy metals, highlighting that the Buddleja species has mayor bioaccumulation capacity and more remotion of total chromium in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Composting is one of the effective environmental protection and sustainable measures for improving soil quality and increasing crop yield. However, due to the special physical and chemical properties of saline-sodic soil and the complex rhizosphere microecological environment, the potential mechanism of regulating plant growth after applying compost in saline-sodic soil remains elusive. Methods: Here, we investigated the effects of different compost addition rates (0, 5, 15, 25%) on plant growth traits, soil chemical properties, and rhizosphere bacterial community structure. Results: The results showed that compost promoted the accumulation of plant biomass and root growth, increased soil nutrients, and enhanced the diversity and complexity of the rhizosphere bacterial communities. Moreover, the enriched core bacterial ASVs (Amplicon Sequence Variants) in compost treatment could be reshaped, mainly including dominant genera, such as Pseudomonas , Devosia , Novosphingobium , Flavobacterium , and Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium. The functions of these ASVs were energy resources and nitrogen cycle functions, suggesting the roles of these ASVs in improving plant root nutrient resource acquisition for alfalfa growth. The contents of available potassium, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, and organic carbon of the soil surrounding the roots, the root length, root surface area, root volume, and root tips affected the abundance of the core bacterial ASVs, and the soil chemical properties contributed more to the effect of plant biomass. Discussion: Overall, our study strengthens the understanding of the potentially important taxa structure and function of plant rhizosphere bacteria communities, and provides an important reference for developing agricultural microbiome engineering techniques to improve root nutrient uptake and increase plant productivity in saline-sodic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miniaturized near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers are revolutionizing the agri-food industry thanks to their compact size and ultra-fast analysis capabilities. This work compares the analytical performance of a handheld NIR spectrometer and a benchtop FT-NIR for the determination of several parameters, namely, pH, electrical conductivity (EC25), C/N ratio, and organic matter as LOI (loss-on-ignition) in compost. Samples were collected at different stages of maturity from a full-scale facility that processes olive mill semi-solid residue together with olive tree pruning residue and animal manure. Using an FT-NIR spectrometer, satisfactory predictions (RPD > 2.0) were obtained with both partial least squares (PLS) and support vector machine (SVM) regression, SVM clearly being superior in the case of pH (RMSEP = 0.26; RPD = 3.8). The superior performance of the FT-NIR spectrometer in comparison with the handheld spectrometer was essentially due to the extended spectral range, especially for pH. In general, when analyzing intact samples with the miniaturized spectrometer, sample rotation decreased RMSEP values (~20%). Nevertheless, a fast and simple assessment of compost quality with reasonable prediction performance can also be achieved on intact samples by averaging static measurements acquired at different sample positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soilborne plant pathogens significantly impact agroecosystem productivity, emphasizing the need for effective control methods to ensure sustainable agriculture. Soil fungistasis, the soil's ability to inhibit fungal spore germination under optimal conditions, is pivotal for biological control. This study explores soil fungistasis variability across land-use intensities, spanning deciduous and evergreen forests, grasslands, shrublands, and horticultural cultivations in both open fields and greenhouses. Soil characterization encompassed organic matter, pH, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, key cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+), enzymatic activities, microbial biomass, and soil microbiota analyzed through high-throughput sequencing of 16s rRNA genes. Fungistasis was evaluated against the pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and the beneficial microbe Trichoderma harzianum. Fungistasis exhibited similar trends across the two fungi. Specifically, the application of glucose to soil temporarily annulled soil fungistasis for both B. cinerea and T. harzianum. In fact, a substantial fungal growth, i.e., fungistasis relief, was observed immediately (48 h) after the pulse application with glucose. In all cases, the fungistasis relief was proportional to the glucose application rate, i.e., fungal growth was higher when the concentration of glucose was higher. However, the intensity of fungistasis relief largely varied across soil types. Our principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that the growth of both Trichoderma and Botrytis fungi was positively and significantly correlated with organic carbon content, total nitrogen, iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium while negatively correlated with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis. Additionally, bacterial diversity and composition across different ecosystems exhibited a positive correlation with FDA hydrolysis and a negative correlation with phosphoric anhydride and soil pH. Analysis of bacterial microbiomes revealed significant differences along the land use intensity gradient, with higher fungistasis in soils dominated by Pseudoarthrobacter. Soils under intensive horticultural cultivation exhibited a prevalence of Acidobacteria and Cyanobacteria, along with reduced fungistasis. This study sheds light on soil fungistasis variability in diverse ecosystems, underscoring the roles of soil texture rather than soil organic matter and microbial biomass to explain the variability of fungistasis across landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of compost, NPK fertilizer and maize-cowpea intercropping on maize grain yield during the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons at Botanga and Golinga in the Northern Region of Ghana. Five levels of spatial row arrangements and three levels of fertilizer types were evaluated as a 5 × 3 factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were subjected to ANOVA using GenStat statistical package, 13th edition, and means were separated using least significant difference and Duncan multiple range test at 95% confidence level and presented in tables. The interaction between maize-cowpea intercropping and fertilizer application had significant (p < 0.05) effects on maize grain yield. Maize grain yields were relatively increased by 1M1C intercropping pattern grown with NPK fertilizer at Botanga in 2021 (4194 kg ha−1) and 2022 (4207 kg ha−1) and at Golinga in 2021 (3933 kg ha−1) and 2022 (4001 kg ha−1) with a significant difference between the two experimental locations. It was observed that the role of cowpea in soil enrichment, high plant densities and yield components largely contributed to the high grain yield of maize in the 1M1C intercropping pattern, which could be recommended to farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate five different microbial consortia for rapid composting of paddy straw and analyse the quality of compost produced. The experimental study on rapid composting of paddy straw was taken at ICAR-NBAIM, Kushmaur, Mau, Uttar Pradesh, India, during the period February to April 2022. The paddy straw was collected from the farm of ICAR-IISS, Mau, U.P., India and the collected paddy straw was chopped into 4-5 cm and further used for the study. The composting experiment was performed in bio-conversion bags of size [12 (L) x 4 (B) x 3 (H) feet]. There were six treatments in which five treatments were taken to evaluate five different microbial consortia and one control (no microbial consortium added). The five different microbial consortia tested were BIOFAST, BIO-COMPOST, NCOF, PUSA and TEJAS. The results showed that Carbon-Nitrogen (C:N) ratio was reached to less than 20 at 60 days in BIO-FAST applied paddy straw followed by NCOF. While, the C:N ratio of control at 60 days was 33.71. Similarly, the primary nutrients (N, P and K) were higher (p < 0.05) in BIO-FAST followed by NCOF applied compost. The microbial activity and enzymatic activities were found to be insignificant (p < 0.05) in microbial consortia added treatments. The diluted extract of compost (50% and 20%) had higher germination index and no phytotoxicity effect. Thus, the results revealed that the addition of BIO-FAST accelerate the composting process and produce quality compost from paddy straw in 60 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several reports on genome sequencing using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify the total genome were extensively carried out; however, genome identification on thermophilic microorganisms is still limited. In this report, genome identification of thermophilic microorganisms isolated from compost, namely Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis AL17, was carried out. The result showed that AL17 contains 3,064,463 bp with a GC content of 72.08%. The genome comprises 2,833 CDSs, 6 RNA (5S, 16S, and 23S), 48 tRNA genes, and 17 Pseudogenes. A comparison of the genome to data based on Average Nucleotide Identity from Dfast-qc shows that the genome is closely related to Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis. Further analysis discovers numerous genes coding for potential enzymes, including hydratase, transferase, dehydrogenase, exopeptidase and hydrolases. In addition, the genome exhibits a number of stress-tolerant genes. Detailed analysis of the hydrolase genes, especially for esterase and lipase, showed that the genome exhibits no true lipase but a lipolytic enzyme within the GDSL-type esterase/lipase motif. The genomic information provides an understanding of thermophilic genomes and their relevance to stress-tolerant adaptation and explores potential genes, especially for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus spp. trees are not fully dormant during the winter months in the northern hemisphere; therefore, they are susceptible to sporadic freeze events of various magnitudes that could decline tree productivity or be lethal. In Feb 2021, winter storm Uri produced freezing air temperatures for nearly 72 hours, which created several degrees of injuries to citrus orchards in southern Texas. Producers in the area implemented combinations of multiple horticultural practices aimed at remediating injuries from the cold spell to stimulate root and tree recovery. However, there is a gap in our understanding of how practices such as compost application (CA) combined with varying rates of nitrogen (N) might facilitate tree recovery. Therefore, we conducted a 2-year field experiment using two CAs as soil amendments in combination with three N rates (112, 168, and 224 kg·ha21 N) to evaluate fruit yield and internal quality, root growth, and recovery of 'Rio Red' grapefruits (Citrus ×paradisi Macf.) and 'Marrs' sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis). The yields of both crops exhibited modest improvement with CA in 2022; however, it was nonsignificant. Moreover, CA elicited more beneficial effects than N rates alone when rehabilitating trees and improving fruit internal quality after freezing events. Grapefruit brix was 4% higher in fruits harvested from trees treated with compost, and grapefruit roots exhibited a twofold dry weight increment with CA. Sweet oranges from trees in the CA treatment had 22% lower acidity compared with that of untreated trees. Overall, our results indicate that citrus producers in southern Texas and other subtropical citrus-producing regions might facilitate the rehabilitation of tree injuries attributed to mild to moderate freeze events with moderate financial gains with the timely application of compost, which enhanced tree fitness and ameliorated fruit productivity declines during subsequent harvests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants that have contaminated compost, but there are few studies on the interaction between compost contaminated with MPs (MPsC) and rice seedling performance. This study investigated the effect of MPsC on the planting activity in rice. In this Three different treatments were applied: treatment 1 (P1) as a control without the addition of MPs, Treatment 2 (P2) with the addition of a 1 % PET MPs concentration, and Treatment 3 (P3) with the addition of a 2 % PET MPs concentration. Rice seedlings were planted in the planting medium of each treatment and observed for 24 days after planting (dap). Treatment with the addition of PET MPs showed a significant reduction 38 %, 25 %, 25 % at root length, height, and fresh weight respectively. Additionally, in chlorophyll content there was a decrease of 42 %, 45 %, 55 % in Chl a, Chl b, and total Chl. This decrease may be caused by disturbances in nutrition and photosynthesis processes due to exposure to MPs. The addition of PET MPs to compost as a planting medium can inhibit the growth and health of rice seedlings. These findings underscore the critical need for effective management of plastic waste in agricultural compost to mitigate its adverse effects on plant growth and environmental sustainability. Proper disposal and treatment of plastic contaminants are essential to maintain the integrity of compost used in agriculture, thereby ensuring optimal plant health and ecological balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composting provides a sustainable method of processing biodegradable waste but is often contaminated with plastic. We quantified and characterised microplastics in air and compost samples from an industrial aerobic green waste composting facility in England. Compost samples were taken at different stages of the process; air samples were taken onsite, upwind, and downwind. Microplastics were found in compost from all stages of the process at levels comparable to those reported for marine sediments; higher concentrations were found in the screening stages of the composting process (mean 9.0 (IQR: 7.1) and 9.0 (IQR: 7.4) MPs 5 g-1 (dw), for 30 mm and 10 mm screened material, respectively). Airborne microplastics were found onsite (32–49 MP m−3), upwind (1 MP m−3) and downwind (3 MP m−3). Composting facilities represent a potential source of microplastics and point of entry to the wider environment. Further investigation into other sites and processes is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dog and cat faeces are a globally neglected issue that demands proper management. The poor handling of pet waste not only impacts environmental health but also contributes to community conflicts due to insufficient waste management practices. The objectives were to investigate the properties of pet wastes compared to livestock wastes (pigs, hens, and cattle) with the intention of formulating an efficient compost product suitable for agricultural applications. Faeces from dogs and cats were collected from the community, while faeces from livestock (pigs, cattle, and hens) were collected from farms. Faeces were mixed with probiotics, rice bran, and rice husk to make compost and used to grow sweet corn plants. The nutrient content was compared between fresh and composted faeces. Composted manure from different animal sources was compared for its effectiveness in promoting sweet corn growth. The results showed that fresh and composted dog and cat manures contained higher levels of nutrients (p < 0.05) compared to livestock manures. Additionally, composted pet manure accelerated (p < 0.05) the growth of the plants compared to composted livestock manures and control groups. This is the first study to conclude that composted pet faeces surpass livestock manure in their higher nutrients and enhance plant growth. The findings could help reduce pet waste and transform it into a valuable recycled resource. However, the safety of composted manure, especially concerning toxoplasmosis from cat faeces, remains a significant concern and requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic soil amendments, such as composts, mitigate the negative impacts on the environment that are caused by poor waste management practices. However, in the sub-Saharan African region, and Malawi in particular, studies investigating the agronomical efficacy and their ability to ameliorate drought stress when used as a soil amendment are minimal. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sewage sludge and municipal solid waste (MSW) co-compost to ameliorate drought stress and improve crop productivity. Three experiments were conducted (i) to determine optimal application rate for co-compost, (ii) to evaluate yield response of maize and lettuce to co-compost application under contrasting soils, and (iii) to assess the effect of co-compost under water-limited conditions. Our results indicate that an application rate of 350 g co-compost per station was the most effective. This rate is 50% and 37% lower than the currently recommended rate for applying conventional compost to green vegetables and maize, respectively. In addition, under drought conditions, the co-compost application enhanced growth in lettuce, with less wilting, increased biomass and yield, approximately 130% greater leaf yield, and a 138% improvement in root growth. Furthermore, the relative root mass ratio (RRMR) was enhanced with the co-compost application by 103% under drought stress. This suggests that the co-compost amendment resulted in a greater allocation of biomass to the roots, which is a crucial morphological attribute for adapting to drought conditions. The concentration of K in the leaves and roots of plants treated with co-compost was significantly increased by 44% and 61%, respectively, under drought conditions, which may have contributed to osmotic adjustment, resulting in a significant increase in leaf relative water content (RWC) by a magnitude of 11 times. Therefore, in light of the rising inorganic fertilizer costs and the limited availability of water resources, these results demonstrate the potential of MSW and sludge co-composting in ameliorating the drastic effects of water- and nutrient-deficient conditions and optimizing growth and yield under these constraining environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwi waste from the calibration process is a major environmental problem of kiwi production due to landfill deposition. This work aims to contribute to the agronomic use of recycled kiwi waste through composting. With this objective, a composting experiment was carried out with kiwi fruit waste mixed with 5%, 10% and 20% (fresh weight) of wheat straw from bundles used to protect kiwifruit trunks from frost, as abulking agent to increase aeration, in the piles 5S, 10S and 20S, respectively. The highest temperatures for piles 5S and 10S were above 60°C, whereas the temperature did not reach 40°C in the pile with the highest straw content (20S) because the aeration increased heat loss in addition to increased C/N ratio of this pile. Also, the amount of organic matter mineralized decreased with increasing amount of straw because of the high C/N ratio of the straw. The highest total N (29.7 g kg−1) and the lowest C/N ratio (13) of the compost with 5% of straw is important from the agricultural point of view to promote N availability. In contrast, the high electrical conductivity (4.6 dS m−1) of this compost increases the risk of salt accumulation in the soil. Our results show that the compost with 10% straw, with high degree of maturation, absence of poor hygiene indicators as coliforms and pathogens as Salmonella sp., high organic matter content and rich in nutrients, together with the adequate compost pH and low electrical conductivity improves compost quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composting offers a solid waste management alternative to landfilling resulting in soil amendment products with fertilization and moisture retention benefits and collateral methane reduction by diverting organic wastes from anaerobic landfill environments. An increasing array of materials and products are marketed as compostable, though only a limited range of these are covered by certification schemes. Greater accessibility and deeper understanding of compostability testing is needed to promote meaningful evaluation of the viability and optimal conditions for composting wider ranges of materials. This article describes various critical aspects of laboratory-scale methodology that can be optimized for more consistent, accurate, and efficient testing. While most of the reviewed studies are based on standardized international test methods, modifications to vessel design, medium, control systems, and evaluation show promise. Learnings are also drawn from biodegradation tests using soil and aqueous media. Particular consideration is given to evaluating compostability of textiles, including nonwovens, which today are primarily disposed of in landfills yet have the potential to supplement organic carbon in compost mixtures with nitrogen rich food waste. Furthermore, biodegradation properties of both natural and man-made textile fibers have received growing attention in recent years. Fiber fragments found in oceans and the surge of disposable face coverings used during the COVID-19 pandemic have been widely covered in the mainstream media, highlighting the importance of understanding biodegradation properties for textiles. This review consolidates and organizes diverse and essential procedural details reported in various standards and studies with the goal of encouraging and guiding successful implementation of compostability testing more broadly in laboratories. Certain gaps in test methodologies are identified to help focus future research. Reliable, accessible testing is crucial to expand the beneficial impacts of composting in waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental problems and the ever-increasing growth of population dictate the need for new methods to turn the problem into an opportunity. The recycling of agricultural waste is very important to achieve sustainable development of agriculture. Present paper focuses on how the proper disposal and recycling of agricultural waste can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve resources, and improve soil fertility. Hereupon, the specified criteria were determined by relevant organisations. Five final products including composting, biochar, biogas, reuse/recycling, and incineration resulting from the technologies used were investigated using the AHP technique. In addition to the effective management of agricultural waste, these technologies help in the production of electricity, fertiliser, and carbon absorption, which results in the reduction of climate change and the reduction of economy. Among the proposed products, biochar was preferred, and the incineration method was ranked the last. Biochar offers potential environmental benefits in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the quality and quantity of agricultural products, and preventing soil erosion and degradation as well as water pollution. High rank was assigned to environmental criteria, and the actual waste production sub-criterion was preferred over other criteria with a weight of 0.170. The lowest weight was obtained for the shipping distance (weigh = 0.013). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recycling nutrients and organic matter available as waste in urban areas may close nutrient gaps and improve soil quality, but the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are commonly higher than in mineral fertilisers. How quickly may the limits for soil quality be exceeded, and for which elements, if such materials are applied intensively? For a rough answer to this question, we used soil data from ten case farms near Oslo and Bergen (Norway) to estimate how PTE concentrations increased when the demand for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in a theoretical carrot crop produced every year was covered by compost or digestate from source-separated food waste, or composted garden waste, compared with manure from horses and poultry which are often kept in peri-urban areas. Results: With the intensive fertilisation assumed here, the Norwegian soil quality limits for PTEs were reached within 20–85 years, and faster for soil with more organic matter since regulatory limits set by weight discriminate soils with low bulk density. The limits were reached first for Cu and Zn, which are both essential micronutrients for crop plants. The concentrations of macronutrients in the urban waste-based fertilisers were not well balanced. Rates covering the K demand would lead to high surpluses of P and N. In peri-urban vegetable growing, high applications of compost are not unusual, but more balanced fertilisation is required. Conclusions: The Norwegian regulations for PTEs in organic soil amendments and agricultural soil are stricter than in the EU, and do not support recycling of organic matter and nutrients from urban waste. Many materials which can only be applied with restricted amounts to Norwegian agricultural soil, may be applied according to crop demand in the EU. Growers utilising urban waste-based fertilisers intensively should monitor the soil regularly, including PTE analyses. Soil sampling should occur on fixed sampling points to reveal changes in concentrations over time. Norwegian authorities should consider a revision of the organic fertiliser regulation to support recycling of valuable organic materials. There is a need for more data on the PTE concentrations in agricultural soil and organic fertiliser materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective disposal of green waste has been a challenging task faced by urban bodies for a long time. Composting can be an effective method to manage green waste by recovering nutrients that can be used as organic manure. However, there are some limitations to green waste composting, such as a low degradation rate and the requirement for high manpower and space. Many researchers have studied ways to minimize the limitations of green waste composting through different approaches. These include the use of co-composting materials, inoculating agents, and process modifications such as multi-stage composting. In this review, we systematically summarized the physicochemical characteristics of green waste and green waste compost, optimum ratios of additives, and process modifications during the composting of green waste reported in various articles. This review is helpful for early-career researchers and individuals new to the field of green waste composting by providing them with key concepts and recent developments in the field. The study suggests that the sustainable selection of additives or methods for composting green waste should depend on resource availability, climatic conditions, and the characterization of the feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource depletion is one of the primary concerns of modern agriculture farmers, which needs to be considered for long term sustainability. To assess the effect of sesame stalk compost on the growth, yield, and quality of sesame under organic cultivation, long-term (four years) field experiments were conducted for eight seasons consecutively from 2020 to 2023. The inoculated composts collected after 90 days of composting contain N (1.45–1.50%), P (0.22–25%), K (0.23–0.25%), Fe (510–514 ppm), Zn (150–154 ppm), Cu (286–288 ppm), and Mn (540–542 ppm), which was higher than the uninoculated sesame stalk. Similarly, the humic acid content (122 mg/g of compost), fulvic acid (23–24 mg/g of compost), total humic substances (145–146 mg/g of compost), and CO2–C evolution (186–188 mg/100 g of compost) were significantly higher with microbial inoculated composts than uninoculated compost. The results of the long-term field experiment indicated that application of sesame stalk compost @ 5 t/ha significantly increased the soil organic carbon (6.30 g/kg), soil organic carbon (SOC) stock (11.8 mg/ha), raised the pH to neutralize the acidic pH in red lateritic soil (6.8 to 7.2), reduced the soil bulk density (1.38 to 1.34), penetration resistance (720 kpa to 630 kpa), and available N, P, and K. As a result, the sesame grain yield obtained with application of sesame stalk compost @ 5 t/ha (778–782 kg/ha) was comparable with recommended doses of chemical fertilizers (794 kg/ha). Significant improvement in grain quality (24.2% of protein, 418–422 ppm of Ca, 12.4–12.6 ppm of Zn, 9.6 ppm of Fe and 2.6 ppm of Cu) and oil yield (364.1–367.5 kg/ha) was also observed due to the application of microbial inoculated sesame stalk compost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional agricultural practices viz; usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, often translate into a surge in soil infertility and plant susceptibility to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Incorporation of organic manure in traditional agricultural practices offers the advantages of enhancing soil texture, aeration, structure, and water retention while aiding in the growth of a healthy plant system via the easy availability of nutrients. Microbial-based techniques like biofertilizers are being encouraged as an alternative to chemical fertilizers to increase crop productivity. They have proven to have a substantial impact on plant development by viable sustainable strategies to increase plant biomass. Under the integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), organic amendments in addition to synthetic fertilizers are more efficient in increasing and maintaining crop output and soil fertility. The objective of this review is to revisit the impact of the combined application of organic manures and beneficial bacterial populations on soil health, agricultural productivity, and sustainability in field crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reclamation and management of saline soil in arid regions fundamentally require more consideration to attain sustainable agriculture. Experiments were conducted at Abo-Kalam Farm, South Sinai, Egypt. Split-split-plot design experiments were carried out to study the effect of treatments on saline soil hydrophysical properties, sorghum, and cv. 'Dorado' plants during the summer season. Pea cv. 'Entsar 3' plants were cultivated during the winter season for the residual effect of treatments. Organo–mineral amendment (rice straw compost + mineral sulfur at different rates) was assigned as the main factor, natural rock or artificial fertilizers were assigned as subfactors, and humic acid at different rates was the sub-subfactor. Results showed that organo–mineral amendments improved the hydrophysical properties of the soil, plant nutrient uptake, crop yield, and crop water productivity; however, it diminished by 10 tons/fed (4200 m2) of compost plus 700 kg/fed of mineral sulfur. Therefore, it is recommended that economically using the combination of applying organic–mineral amendments of 4 tons/fed of compost plus 400 kg/fed of mineral sulfur and 5 kg/fed of humic acid plus natural rock fertilizer is the best safe management for reclamation and improvement of saline soils using partially treated saline irrigation water and natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating methane (CH4) emissions using methanotrophs (methane-oxidizing bacteria, MOB), is a simple, energy efficient and cheap technology. The abundance and distribution of MOB in the environmental samples is critical for efficient removal of emitted CH4 from any source. This study evaluated the performance of farm soils without and with cheap, easily accessible bulking materials as sustainable hybrid biofilter media. Soil-only biofilters removed up to 865 ± 19 g CH4 m−3 d−1 with well-drained organic carbon-rich soils compared with 264 ± 14 g CH4 m−3 d−1 for poorly drained soil. The removal efficiency decreased with increasing flow rate (0.16→0.24 L min−1) and subsequent priming could not return soil biofilters to their previous removal rate. Hybrid biofilters using organic, carbon-rich soils and compost removed up to 2698 g CH4 m−3 d−1 (flow rate 0.35 L min−1). Increasing CH4 flow rates also reduced their efficiency, but the hybrid biofilters with compost quickly regained most of their efficiency and removed up to 2262 g CH4 m−3 d−1 (flow rate 0.3 L min−1) after remixing of biofilter media. These results show that hybrid biofilters removed higher CH4 than soil-only biofilters and were also more resilient. The MOB gene abundance results complement the CH4 removal capacity of both soil-only and hybrid biofilter materials used. The more aerobic, carbon-rich soils had more abundant MOB than the poorly drained soil. The most porous hybrid biofilter with compost and more available nutrients to sustain bacterial growth and activity had the highest MOB abundance and removed the most CH4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Soil organic phosphorus (Porg) is of interest for plant nutrition because it can comprise between 20 and 80% of total soil phosphate (P). This study aims to examine the effect of compost application on soil phosphatases and microbial biomass, which influence the P turnover and, furthermore, to examine the speciation of Porg. Methods: Soil from a long-term field experiment (since 1997) which compares compost application with inorganic fertilization was analyzed for calcium-acetate-lactate extractable P (CAL-P), Olsen-P, acid (Acid-Pase) and alkaline (Alk-Pase) phosphatase activity and microbial biomass P. Porg speciation was additionally analyzed with liquid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-NMR). Results: We found a significant increasing long-term effect of high compost application (equivalent to 400 kg ha−1 N (400)) on Acid-Pase (45%) and Alk-Pase (58%). After compost application, Acid-Pase increased by 41% in treatment 400 (3 days after compost application (DAA)). The 31P-NMR analysis showed a significant increase of inorganic orthophosphate (55%) after high compost application. Furthermore, the total phosphomonoester region was significantly decreased in the treatment 400 (8%). Conclusions: We demonstrated that long-term compost application increases phosphatase activity which plays a key role in the mineralization of soil Porg. In particular, the decrease of the concentration of Porg species in the phosphomonoester region in the treatment 400 with high compost application highlights that an increased turnover affects this soil P pool and may provide P to plants. This knowledge provides a better understanding of how the P cycle responds to long-term compost fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of the maturity of compost and other organic fertilizers is very important because of possible phytotoxic or phytostimulating effects. The maturity of compost can be assessed on the basis of chemical analyses, and a germination test with different test plants is most often used to determine phytotoxicity. In this research, the maturity of compost produced from the plant residues subsequent to the maintenance of green public areas was assessed using the results of chemical analyses. Simultaneously, a germination test was carried out with the four test plant species (cucumber, garden cress, triticale, and barley) to determine the phytotoxicity of compost extract in a ratio of 1:2.5 v/v (1:3.3 w/v) and 1:10 v/v (1:13.3 w/v) and the three ammonium N solutions (in the concentrations of 200, 400, and 600 mg/L NH4-N). According to the chemical properties of compost (primarily the C/N, NH4-N/NO3-N ratios, and the NH4-N concentration) and the germination test with cucumber and garden cress, we may conclude that the tested compost was mature and that we did not expect a phytotoxic effect. The choice of a plant is very significant because the germination test with a compost extract demonstrated an undoubted phytostimulating effect on the garden cress and cucumber, with a more pronounced phytostimulating effect of the 1:10 than that of the 1:2.5 v/v compost extract. No such effect was detected on the monocotyledonous test plants triticale and barley since the 1:10 v/v extract had no significant effect, and the 1:2.5 v/v extract had a phytotoxic effect, moderate on the triticale and high on barley. The conclusion is that garden cress and cucumber are suitable test plants for the determination of compost's phytostimulative effect, but they are not suitable for the determination of phytotoxicity for monocotyledonous plants, especially if the cause of phytotoxicity is a non-ammonium component. Barley is the most suitable species for the determination of compost's non-ammonium phytotoxicity and nitrogen's ammonium-form phytostimulative or phytotoxic effect. It would be very useful to conduct a comparative germination test with the compost extracts in the ratios 1:2.5 and 1:10, whereby the 1:2.5 extract would be used as a test of phytotoxicity, and the 1:10 extract for the test of a phytostimulating effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy with compost fertilization is included in the sustainable orchard paradigm, creating a holistic production ecosystem. Modern orchards are mostly intensive and super-intensive, requiring different rootstocks. This research presents the response to compost fertilization of two specific pear rootstocks (quince 'CTS 212' and 'Farold® 40') and own-rooted trees, analyzing six resistant cultivars in a circular production system. The dynamic of nitrogen and carbon concentration in leaves, soil respiration coefficient, the evolution of the fruit maturity stage in the field, and some biometric parameters such as trunk cross-section area, the annual vegetative growth, and fruiting shoots annual number were analyzed. The results highlighted that compost fertilization led to increased leaf nitrogen concentration over the first two years while carbon concentration remained relatively stable. Rootstock and compost fertilization influenced the fruit maturity dynamic, but a single pattern was not identified. Quince, as pear rootstock, expressed a higher sensitivity to compost application; the biometric parameters, such as trunk cross-section area, and almost all cultivars' annual vegetative growth were higher than the controls'. Positive output can lead to future model upscaling in farms and households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the feasibility of using compost as a 'green adsorbent' for the removal of five anionic azo dyes belonging to the monoazo, disazo and trisazo classes: Direct Red 81 (DR-81), Direct Blue 74 (DB-74), Reactive Blue 81 (RB-81), Reactive Red 198 (RR-198) and Acid Black 194 (ABk-194) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity of the compost was determined using a batch method with initial dye concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 mg/L. The kinetics of dye removal followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicating chemisorption as the rate-limiting step. The monoazo dyes RB-81, RR-198 and ABk-194 with the smaller molecule size were adsorbed the fastest. The Langmuir and Sips models best fit the adsorption system with maximum adsorption capacities in the range of 12.64 mg/g (RR-198)—20.92 mg/g (ABk-194) and 12.57 mg/g (RR-198)—25.43 mg/g (ABk-194), respectively. The adsorption depended on the dye structure, especially on the ratio of the numbers of proton donors to proton acceptor locations in functional groups. The differences in the adsorption mechanism could be explained by thermodynamic properties such as dipole moments, HOMO–LUMO energy gap, polarizability, electron affinity, ionization potential, electronegativity and chemical hardness obtained by Density Functional Theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, great prominence is moved towards reusing or recycling organic waste into various products with noteworthy applications. In this study, mixed vegetable wastes were decomposed by a microbial consortium composed of bacteria Pseudomonas stutzeri, Bacillus polymyxa, Lactococcus lactis, actinomycetes Streptomyces albus, filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger and yeast strain Candida utilis into high nutrient content humous material. Compost thus obtained was formulated into a liquid growth medium and checked for the mass multiplication of well-known fungal biopesticide Metarhizium anisopliae. Decomposition brought about the production of high nutrient content compost, which revealed high nitrogen (212.3 mg/kg), phosphorous (465.13 mg/kg), potassium (1871.13 mg/kg) and total organic carbon (122.03 mg/kg) content. Liquid medium formulated from the compost recorded maximum biomass, spore production with high germination index of M. anisopliae. Viable spores produced in CBM exhibited noteworthy pesticide activity against the larval instar of gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera. Formulated medium supported the production of metabolites which inhibited the growth of the human pathogens. These findings demonstrated the noteworthy bioconversion of organic wastes via microbial consortium composting into high growth-promoting, economical, low-cost medium for the mass multiplication of versatile fungal biopesticides and the source of bioactive metabolite production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is considered a major global environmental problem due to its adverse effects on agricultural sustainability and production. Compost is an environmentally friendly and sustainable measure used for reclaiming saline–sodic soil. However, the responses of the physiological characteristics of alfalfa and the structure and function of rhizosphere fungal communities after compost application in saline–sodic soil remain elusive. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to explore the effect of different compost application rates on soil properties, plant physiological traits, and rhizosphere fungal community characteristics. The results showed that compost significantly increased soil nutrients and corresponding soil enzyme activities, enhanced leaf photosynthesis traits, and ion homeostasis compared with the control treatment. We further found that the rhizosphere fungal communities were dominated by Sodiomyces at the genus level, and the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi, such as Botryotrichum, Plectosphaerella, Pseudogymnoascus, and Fusarium, declined after compost application. Moreover, the α-diversity indexes of the fungal community under compost application rates of 15% and 25% significantly decreased in comparison to the control treatment. The soil SOC, pH, TP, and TN were the main environmental factors affecting fungal community composition. The leaf photosynthetic traits and metal ion contents showed significantly positive correlations with Sodiomyces and Aspergillus. The fungal trophic mode was dominated by Pathotroph–Saprotroph–Symbiotroph and Saprotroph. Overall, our findings provide an important basis for the future application of microbial-based strategies to improve plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Anthropogenic activities, encompassing vast agricultural and industrial operations around the world, exert substantial pressure on the environment, culminating in profound ecological impacts. These activities exacerbate soil contamination problems with pollutants such as mercury (Hg) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) that are notable for their widespread presence and detrimental effects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of Phaseolus vulgaris L., augmented with various combinations of biochar, mycorrhizal, and compost amendments, as a sustainable alternative for the remediation of soils contaminated with Hg and CPF. For this purpose, soil from a mining area with mercury contamination has been taken, to which CPF has been added in different concentrations. Then, previously germinated Phaseolus vulgaris L. seedlings with an average height of 10 cm were planted. Electrical conductivity, pH, organic matter, CPF, and Hg, as well as seedling growth parameters, have been evaluated to determine the processes of absorption of soil contaminants into the plant. A combination of biochar with mycorrhiza has been found to be an optimal choice for CPF and Hg remediation. However, all amendments have proven to be efficient in the remediation processes of the tested contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate five different microbial consortia for rapid composting of paddy straw and analyze the quality of compost produced. The experimental study on rapid composting of paddy straw was taken at ICAR-NBAIM, Kushmaur, Mau, Uttar Pradesh, India, during the period February to April 2022. The paddy straw was collected from the farm of ICAR-IISS, Mau, U.P., India and the collected paddy straw was chopped into 4-5 cm and further used for the study. The composting experiment was performed in bio-conversion bags of size [12 (L) x 4 (B) x 3 (H) feet]. There were six treatments in which five treatments were taken to evaluate five different microbial consortia and one control (no microbial consortium added). The five different microbial consortia tested were BIO-FAST, BIO-COMPOST, NCOF, PUSA and TEJAS. The results showed that Carbon-Nitrogen (C:N) ratio was reached to less than 20 at 60 days in BIO-FAST applied paddy straw followed by NCOF. While, the C:N ratio of control at 60 days was 33.71. Similarly, the primary nutrients (N, P and K) were higher (p < 0.05) in BIO-FAST followed by NCOF applied compost. The microbial activity and enzymatic activities were found to be insignificant (p < 0.05) in microbial consortia added treatments. The diluted extract of compost (50% and 20%) had higher germination index and no phytotoxicity effect. Thus, the results revealed that the addition of BIO-FAST accelerate the composting process and produce quality compost from paddy straw in 60 days.

Several reports on genome sequencing using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify the total genome were extensively carried out; however, genome identification on thermophilic microorganisms is still limited. In this report, genome identification of thermophilic microorganisms isolated from compost, namely Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis AL17, was carried out. The result showed that AL17 contains 3,064,463 bp with a GC content of 72.08%. The genome comprises 2,833 CDSs, 6 RNA (5S, 16S, and 23S), 48 tRNA genes, and 17 Pseudogenes. A comparison of the genome to data based on Average Nucleotide Identity from Dfast-qc shows that the genome is closely related to Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis. Further analysis discovers numerous genes coding for potential enzymes, including hydratase, transferase, dehydrogenase, exopeptidase and hydrolases. In addition, the genome exhibits a number of stress-tolerant genes. Detailed analysis of the hydrolase genes, especially for esterase and lipase, showed that the genome exhibits no true lipase but a lipolytic enzyme within the GDSL-type esterase/lipase motif. The genomic information provides an understanding of thermophilic genomes and their relevance to stress-tolerant adaptation and explores potential genes, especially for industrial applications.

Introduction: urban sewage sludge contains significant amounts of essential elements for plant growth, which can be optimally used in the agricultural process. However, the presence of heavy elements is one of the main limitations of the direct use of this substance in agricultural lands. Therefore, the general purpose of this study is to investigate the role of using organic modifiers (rice straw and branches from citrus pruning) in urban sewage sludge and converting them into compost and biochar in reducing the amount of heavy elements, and also the partial purpose of this study is to compare the effect of compost and biochar on reducing the amount of heavy elements. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in two separate designs in the form of a randomized complete block with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The first plan included the production of compost using the combination of urban sewage sludge with rice straw and citrus branches with different ratios (1:1, 3:1, 5:1, and 7:1) and the second plan included the production of biochar using compost obtained from the first design with rice straw and citrus branches with different ratios (1:1, 3:1, 5:1, and 7:1). Then, the amount of total lead, nickel and cadmium (digestion with nitric acid and perchloric acid) and available (extraction with DTPA) were measured in biochar and sewage sludge compost samples. Results and Discussion: Based on the results, the treatment of compost obtained from the combination of sewage sludge + rice straw in the ratio (1:1) reduced the amount of lead and total cadmium by 37.12 and 69.29%, respectively, compared to the control (sewage sludge). This reduction in the amount of lead and cadmium in the mentioned treatment is due to the high amount of rice straw compared to other treatments of rice straw and the greater degradability of rice straw compared to the citrus branch. The amount of available nickel in the treatments of compost + rice straw (1:1), compost + citrus branch (1:1), and (1:3) decreased by 46.12, 48.71, and 25.03%, respectively, compared to the control (sewage sludge). Also, the amount of available cadmium in compost treatments with rice straw (1:1), citrus branch (1:1), and (1:3) decreased by 43.97%, 33.18%, and 47.44%, respectively, compared to the control. Biochar had a significant effect on the amount of total lead and cadmium, so that the lowest amount of total lead and cadmium was observed in biochar + rice straw with a ratio of 1:1 and the amount of total lead and cadmium in this treatment decreased by 46.99 and 25.26%, respectively, compared to the control. Production of biochar from sewage sludge compost increased the amount of total lead and cadmium. However, the conversion of sewage sludge compost into biochar caused a significant decrease in the amount of available lead, nickel, and cadmium. Rice straw and citrus branches in biochar had no significant effect on available nickel. Conclusion: The production of compost and biochar from sewage sludge had a significant effect on the total and available heavy elements in the sludge. Therefore, in order to reduce the availability of lead, nickel, and cadmium, using the biochar method is preferable to compost and is prioritized. If the production of biochar is not cost-effective, the plant compounds of rice straw and citrus branches can be used in the production of sewage sludge compost, which has a significant effect on the immobilization of available heavy elements. Sewage sludge compost with rice straw by a ratio of 1:1, which has the lowest amount of pollution and the lowest cost for production, was recommended as the optimal treatment.

Organic waste can be used to make compost. One method of composting is by using Biopore Absorption Holes. Processing organic waste into compost can be done by adding local microorganisms (MOL) as bioactivators with varying MOL doses (0,25,50,175,100,125) % for every 5kg of food waste and vegetable waste categories. Composting process uses biopori absorption hole method with a depth of 80cm and diameter of 6 inches. MOL can be made from vegetable or fruit waste because the materials used are simple and easy to obtain. In the composting process, addition of MOL can increase the content of macro and micro nutrients. This research aims to determine the effect of reducing volume of compost and analyze the content of C, N, P, K, Fe, and Zn, from the composting process with different MOL doses and types of waste that have been determined. The research results showed that C, P, Fe and Zn tests had met the quality standards, while N and K tests had not met the quality standards. It can be concluded that the most effective activator dose is 25ml/L in food waste category because the compost produced meets the quality standards of SNI 19-7030-2004 concerning Compost Specifications from Organic Waste.

Numerous regions across the globe grapple with the impact of both natural and human-induced soil salinization, posing a significant barrier to agricultural output and presenting a formidable hurdle to food security. The existence of salt in the soil has a profound impact on plants, influencing them from the smallest cellular level to the entire plant structure. The following study was carried out to increase understanding and collect data on wheat produced in naturally salt-affected land using different compost and vermicompost amendments, taking into account the paucity of studies conducted under natural field conditions. Organic matter from the compost/vermicompost aids in slow release of mineral elements and provides soluble nutrients to reduce abiotic stresses. On the application of compost and vermicompost different physiochemical properties of soil showed increase in nutrient content like, organic carbon, nitrogen, avail K, avail P, and avail. Ca, in A2, A3, A4 and A5 amendments when compared to control. Total chlorophyll, carotenoid, thiol and protein showed increase in content with the application of organic amendments. Phenol, proline, ascorbic acid and lipid peroxidation showed reduction with the application of organic amendments. The impact of amendments on the final harvest on 140 days was evaluated, considering various factors such as, the ear length per plant, weight of ears per plant, number of grains per plant, weight of grains per plant, straw weight per plant, husk weight per plant, harvest index, 1000 seeds weight, and yield. FTIR analysis of the soil samples were done to compare the different functional groups and changes in the amendments made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the environmental context of Türkiye, the quantity of organic matter present in the soil is a crucial factor that affects its productivity potential. While peat offers an optimal growth condition, it is an expensive material due to its limited availability globally, and in Türkiye. Hence, the research employed compost, which could be a viable replacement for peat, and is a sustainable, and independent alternative resource. The study examined the effects of 13 diverse growing media, both in pure, and mixed form, which included a control treatment of a 2:1 peat to perlite mixture, and three composts derived from grape, apple, and tomato pulps. The research investigated various growth criteria, such as seedling height, hypocotyl length, and diameter, number of leaves per seedling, root length, seedling dry weight, and root dry weight of tomato, cucumber, and pepper plants. The study indicated that grape compost, apple compost, tomato compost:peat:perlite (GAT:P:P), and grape compost:peat:perlite (G:P:P) were viable alternatives to the traditional peat/perlite mixture for tomato seedlings. Similarly, grape compost (G), apple compost (A), and apple compost:perlite (A:P) showed potential as substitutes for cucumber seedlings while apple compost (A) proved a possible option for chilli seedlings. In particular, the treatments using solely apple or grape composts, or a combination of both, exhibited superior performance in comparison to the control treatment.

Abstract This study was conducted in the Lamto area to evaluate the effect of cocoa shell compost and chicken droppings compost on cassava agronomic variables. The main aim is to increase cassava production, which is in relative decline due to soil impoverishment through organic amendments. The evaluation led to the monitoring of plant development until harvest by measuring some agronomic variables of growth and yield of four varieties of cassava, Alleda agba, Bonoua, Six mois and Yacé each grown on soil fertilized with cocoa shell compost or chicken droppings compost. The experimental design used for this study was a complete randomized block design with 3 replicates. The results showed that the two fertilizers used, being rich in mineral elements, improved the agronomic variables of cassava, superior to the control. This was reflected in a high number of stems per cutting (3.62). However, the chicken droppings compost gave the best development in stem length for the Six mois variety (121.10 cm). The Bonoua variety gave the largest diameter stems (21.98 mm). This variety gave the highest number of leaves (59) and a wider span (109 cm) with wider (16.75 cm) and longer (17.96 cm) leaves. As for yields, the best was obtained with the Bonoua variety, respectively 27.13 t/ha and 35.26 t/ha with cocoa shell compost and chicken droppings compost compared with 12.77 t/ha for the control. Thus, compost and chicken droppings compost can be recommended to improve cassava productivity in Côte d'Ivoire.

This study investigates the combined effects of standard soil fertilization, composted animal manure, and foliar fertilization on tomato yield, soil nutrient content, and soil biological properties under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted from March to October 2023 using a completely randomized block design with four replications. The treatments included: 1) Control (no fertilization), 2) Standard soil fertilization (30 kg N/da, 8 kg P2O5/da, 40 kg K2O/da), 3) Standard soil fertilization + composted animal manure (2 t/da), 4) Standard soil fertilization + foliar fertilization (1 kg 17-17-17/100 liters of water every 20 days), and 5) Standard soil fertilization + compost + foliar fertilization. Tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Roma) were transplanted into pots filled with clay soil. Throughout the experiment, soil moisture content was maintained at field capacity. Plants were harvested on October 30, 2023, and data on fruit yield, soil nutrient content (NPK), and soil biological properties (microbial biomass C, CO2 production, and dehydrogenase enzyme activity) were recorded. The highest yield (4.5 kg/plant) was observed in the treatment combining standard soil fertilization, composted animal manure, and foliar fertilization, representing a 275% increase compared to the control (1.2 kg/plant). The standard soil fertilization treatment alone yielded 2.8 kg/plant (133.3% increase), while the combination with composted animal manure yielded 3.5 kg/plant (191.7% increase), and with foliar fertilization, 3.9 kg/plant (225% increase). Soil analyses showed significant increases in available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the combined treatments. The highest biological properties were also recorded in the combined treatment.