Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Application of Compost as an Organic Amendment for Enhancing Soil Quality and Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Growth: Agronomic and Ecotoxicological Evaluation

Majda Oueld Lhaj; Rachid Moussadek; Latifa Mouhir; Hatim Sanad; Khadija Manhou; Oumaima Iben Halima; Hasna Yachou; Abdelmjid Zouahri; Meriem Mdarhri Alaoui

Agronomy · 2025

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Summary

This study investigates the use of compost as an organic soil amendment in sweet basil cultivation, evaluating both agronomic benefits and ecotoxicological safety. The research likely demonstrates improvements in soil quality indicators and plant growth parameters under compost treatment compared to unamended controls, whilst confirming the absence of significant phytotoxic effects. The dual agronomic and ecotoxicological framework provides a more holistic assessment of compost suitability for horticultural use than yield-only approaches.

UK applicability

Whilst conducted in Morocco under different climatic and soil conditions, the findings are broadly relevant to UK horticulture and organic waste management policy, particularly in the context of increasing interest in compost-based soil amendments as alternatives to synthetic fertilisers under sustainable farming schemes.

Key measures

Soil organic matter content; soil pH; electrical conductivity; plant height; biomass yield; nutrient uptake; ecotoxicological bioassay indicators (e.g. germination index, root elongation)

Outcomes reported

The study measured the effects of compost application on soil physicochemical properties and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) agronomic performance, alongside an ecotoxicological evaluation to assess potential risks associated with compost use.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil health & organic amendments
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Morocco
System type
Horticulture
DOI
10.3390/agronomy15051045
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-03t

Topic tags

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