Evaluation of municipal waste compost toxicity by seed germination and seedlings growth of wheat, barley and rapeseed and comparison of two methods of assessment

In this study, bioassay test of Shiraz municipal rubbish compost on germination and seedling growth of wheat, barley and rapeseed with concentrations of 0 to 20% of the compost extract with three replications was investigated. In addition, a comparison between two methods of compost toxicity evaluation was occurred. Petri dishes were harvested after7 days and then the radicle and plumule length were measured. In all three seeds, the highest germination percentage and radicle and plumule length was in control and the lowest in 20% of compost extract. The compost extract, causes toxicity and limitation in germination and growth of seedlings, if prepared from raw materials containing toxic organic compounds and heavy metals and not completely processed. It is recommended that agricultural waste can be used in the preparation of compost and urban wastage can be consumed as little as possible. Comparison of the two methods showed that this article method, due to lower concentration of the extract, the seed germination percentage was significantly higher and, due to similarity to the natural condition and absorption of some extract by soil matrix, it is more appropriate for evaluation of compost toxicity.