Improvement on Plant Uptake of Inorganic Nutrients Fertilized by Migration of Water-Soluble Organic Matter From Animal Manure-Based Compost

Purpose Increasing our knowledge of interactions between inorganic nutrients and organic matter derived from animal manure compost is essential for the appropriate fertilization by the combined application of chemical fertilizer and animal manure compost. This study aimed to simultaneously understand the mobility and plant uptake of inorganic nutrient fertilizers in the presence of water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) derived from animal manure-based compost. Methods WSOM with molecular weights (MW) > 1,000 was prepared using cattle, swine, and poultry manure-based compost. A combined pot-percolation and plant-cultivation test consisting of migration and cultivation layers was designed. Results Plant shoot fresh weights in pots with fertilized soil in the migration layer were not significantly different among the WSOM and water irrigations, regardless of the compost type. The calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) use efficiency was higher in the WSOM irrigation treatments compared with the water irrigation depending on the compost types. The percentages of water-soluble Ca, Mg, and K derived from the fertilizer in the migration layer were lower in the WSOM irrigation, particularly from poultry manure-based compost, than in the water irrigation. Conclusions The combined pot-percolation and plant-cultivation test results demonstrate that the presence of WSOM derived from animal manure-based compost enhances the migration of K, Ca, and Mg, resulting in improvement in nutrient use efficiency in the presence of WSOM in laboratory-scale tests.