Physico-chemical characterization of growth substrate based poultry methacompost for better use in Tunisia

Abstract

The quality of growth substrate, assigned to the production of above ground plants, is dependent in particular for its physicochemical composition. For better optimization of the composition, a direct assessment was dedicated to a set of growth substrates, peat in mixture with basic and refined poultry methacompost (PMC), with or without the addition of forestry raw compost (FRC). Growth substrates undergo some physicochemical analysis (bulk density, total porosity, pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, organic matter, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N, levels of certain minerals). The tested substrates have revealed a wide bulk density, but meeting the required standards, good total porosity for blends made with the descending PMC incorporation rate, an acidic pH and electrical conductivity in the low overall. The PMC has been very rich in nitrogen and high in minerals (P, Ca and Na). Such characteristics indicate that incorporation with peat in a proportion of 10 to 20% might be possible, taking the necessary cautions.