Observation of plant development with compost, lime and chemical fertilizer support in acidic soil with high metal content

Abstract

In this study, the growth of parsley plants (Petroselinum crispum) was observed in an acidic (pH 2) soil having high heavymetal concentrations with the addition of compost, lime and chemical fertilizer as soil amendments. The soil sample wasobtained from the Kastel Village of the Çamburnu district in Trabzon. The compost used as soil conditioner was attainedfrom the Kemerburgaz Recycling and Composting Facility located in Istanbul. Calcium ammonium nitrate was used aschemical fertilizer. Soil samples were prepared to contain i. 10% (v/v) compost (K1), ii. 10% (v/v) compost and 1.5%(v/v) chemical fertilizer (K2), iii. 10% (v/v) compost and 1.5% (v/v) lime (K3) iv. 1.5% (v/v) lime and 1.5% (v/v)chemical fertilizer (K4), v. 10% (v/v) compost, 1.5% (v/v) lime and 1.5% (v/v) chemical fertilizer (K5) and vi. 10% (v/v)compost and 1.5% (v/v) chemical fertilizer. The addition of chemical fertilizer was performed simultaneously with theplantation of parsley seeds. Also, plant seeds were planted in the both of the soil samples with no additives as a controlsamples. The prepared plant pots were placed in an artificially lighted environment with timer control obtaining 16 hoursdaylight, 8 hours night. Lengths and weights of root and aerial parts of parsley plants were measured at the end of thegrowth period. The pH of the soil mixtures in the plant pots were measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Atthe end of the study, plant growth was not observed in the acidic soil sample in the absence of soil amendments. The bestplant growth (aerial part length 18.6 cm, root length 4 cm, weight 0.2 g) was achieved in commercial plant soil containingammonium nitrate. The appropriate plant growth (aerial part length 11 cm, root length 4 cm, weight 0.053 g) for the acidicand heavy metal containing soil were reached with the sample containing 10% (v/v) compost, 1.5% (v/v) lime and 1.5%(v/v) chemical fertilizer.