Growing media constituents determine the microbial nitrogen conversions in organic growing media for horticulture.

ABSTRACT: Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy food diet, however, the eco-sustainability of the production of these can still be significantly improved. European farmers and consumers spend an estimated €15.5 billion per year on inorganic fertilizers and the production of N-fertilizers results in a high carbon footprint. We investigated if fertilizer type and medium constituents determine microbial nitrogen conversions in organic growing media and can be used as a next step towards a more sustainable horticulture. We demonstrated that growing media constituents showed differences in urea hydrolysis, ammonia and nitrite oxidation and in carbon dioxide respiration rate. Interestingly, mixing of the growing media constituents resulted in a stimulation of the function of the microor

SUBMITTER: Grunert O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4835575 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature