Effect of Different Amounts of Municipal Solid Waste Compost on Soil Properties and Nutrient Concentration and Growth of Corn Yield

This experiment was conducted in research field of abureyhan campus, university of Tehran, to study the effect of different amounts of municipal solid waste compost on soil nutrients and growth and yield of forage corn. Five treatments (include of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 ton compost per ha) were used in a complete block design with three replications. According to the result, height and dry and fresh yield increased by increase in amount of compost used in soil. The highest corn forage yield was obtained from 60 and 45 ton.ha-1 compost treatments. Soil Ca, K, Mg, P and organic matter had positive correlation with compost application amount. During time in growth season, soil nutrient concentration and organic matter were decrease and differences between treatments were decreased at the end of the season. Also, soil EC and pH were increased by compost application, but decreased at the end of season due to leaching and plants uptake and due to soil buffering property, respectively. Finally, soil characteristics and corn growth and yield were improved by increase in the compost amount.