Summary
This laboratory study examined how recycled urban composts of varying maturity could restore soil aggregate stability in intensively farmed silt loam soils depleted of organic matter. Immature composts improved aggregate stability primarily through increased microbial activity and water repellency, with fungal biomass playing a key role, whilst mature composts provided more modest but immediate improvements through increased interparticulate cohesion. Municipal solid waste compost proved most effective at improving resistance to slaking due to its larger labile organic pool.
Regional applicability
The findings are relevant to United Kingdom temperate agricultural soils, particularly where intensive farming has depleted soil organic matter and livestock farming has declined. The use of urban compost recycling as a soil amendment strategy aligns with UK soil health and circular economy policy, though site-specific trials would be needed to validate effects under field conditions and with UK-sourced composts.
Key measures
Aggregate stability, soil organic matter, microbial biomass (bacterial and fungal), fungal biomass evolution, organic carbon mineralisation, hot-water-extractable polysaccharides, water drop penetration time (hydrophobicity), aggregate resistance to slaking
Outcomes reported
The study examined how three types of urban composts at different maturity stages affected soil aggregate stability in silt loam soil through laboratory incubation. Mechanisms of stabilisation were assessed via organic matter biodegradability, microbial activity, polysaccharides, and water repellency.
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