Effects of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost on nodulation, plant growth and mineral composition of chickpea in marginal land

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to compare the effects of municipal solid waste compost amendment and mineral nitrogen fertilization on the growth, nodulation and chemical composition of chickpea in a low fertility soil. MSW compost was applied at three rates: 25, 50 and 100 MT/ha. Total of 100 kg/ha mineral nitrogen applied as urea, was divided into two parts, 50 Kg/ha at presowing and 50 Kg/ha just before flowering. There was also a control treatment without any fertilization. All compost rates and fertilizer treatment gave higher seed yields than unamended control, but there was no yield response to the increasing application rate of MSW compost. Significantly higher pod and seed number per plant in compost amended treatments had increasing effects on seed yield. 50 MT/ha MSW application was optimal with respect to increasing plant yield characteristics and nodule formation. Crop growing duration was not affected by tissue trace mineral contents. Concentrations of trace metals in the plant, grain and straw were similar to those in the fertilizer treatments. Grain and straw Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr and Ni were well below their toxic thresholds, and Pb and Co were not detected at any plant part.