]RESEARCH r-11SULTS FOR PLOWER GROJE?.S
Utilization of Processed Garbage in the Production
of Florist Crops 1967 70
Horticulture Series No. 16
E V. Smith , D a, Alabama
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction . . . . 1
Growth and Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemums Grown in Garbage
Compost-Amended dedia.
Effect of Various Media Combinations of Peat and Original Compost
on the GrowTth of Potted Chrysanthemum cv. 'Golden Yellow
Princess Anne' . 7
Influence of Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media on the
Growth of Potted Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay' . . . . . . 8
Influence of Soil Mixtures Amended with Recomposted Mobile-Aid
Compost on the Growth of Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay' 9
Comparison of Three Compost Products as Soil Amendments on the
Growth of Potted Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Yellow andalay' . . . . 11
Effect of edia Containing Original Compost on the Growth of
Chrysanthemum, cv 'Sunstar' 12
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the
Growth of Easter Lilies ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Influence of Peat and Original Compost-Amended Media and Constant
Fertilization with and without a Single Application of Iron
Chelate on the Growth of Geraniums .. . I........... 16
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended MTedia on the
Grtth of Gloxinia ................ ...... 17
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the
Growth of Tw7o Flowering Groups of Snapdragons . . . . . . . . 18
Growth and Foliar Analysis of 11iniature Carnations in Compost-
Amended Media . a . . . ............. .a. . . . 20
Effect of Various Additions and Recomposting on the Chemical
Analysis of Original Compost . ........ .... 23
Summary and Conclusions .............. .. ... 24
RESEARCH RESULTS FOR FLOWER GROWERS
Utilization of Processed Garbage in the Production
of Florist Crops 1967 - 70
1/
Kenneth C. Sanderson
INTRODUCTION
This research had as a broad objective the determination of means of
conservation and utilization of the resources contained in garbage compost.
The compost was produced from garbage after most of the metals, rags,
and large items of refuse were removed by hand or mechanical means. The
remaining material was ground in a hammer mill and composted in windrows
Two products of Municipal Compost Plant of the City of Mobile, Alabama,
except as noted, were used. The first was a coarse ground compost contain-
ing a large quantity of plastic and will be referred to as the original com-
post (oc). The second compost was marketed under the trade name of Mobile
Aid (MA) and, while chemically similar to the original compost, contained
less visible plastic and was finer ground.
Growth and Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemums Grown
in Garbage Compost Amended Media.
Most garbage compost materials contain considerable amounts of metals
such as: calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, aluminum, sodium,
boron, chromium, vanadium, arsenic, and molybedenum. Many of the heavy metals
found in garbage compost are toxic to plants in minute quantities. Toxicity
symptoms observed on plants may be the result of concentration of one or more
of these elements in plant tissues. To investigate this possibility, foliar
analysis experiments were conducted on chrysanthemums grown in garbage com-
post-amended soils.
Experiments compared original compost with Mobile Aid and other materials
as a soil amendment for chrysanthemums. The two compost materials used had
the following analyses:
Compost Soluble salts (mhos) p Elements (p.p.m. Spurway).
N P K Ca
Original . . . . . 30 - 86 8.4 0-5 0-1 20-40 100-150
Mobile Aid . . . . 70 -195 8.5 0-2 0-1 20-40 100-300
Ten potting mixtures were formulated from the two garbage composts,
Table 1. The pH of the mixtures was adjusted to 6.0 using dolomitic limestone
or fine sulfur. Gypsum was added to mixtures where the pH was adjusted with
sulfur. Superphosphate was added to all mixtures at the rate of 1.6 kg per
1 m
3 
of rooting media. Plants were fertilized every 2 weeks by watering with
a solution containing 3 g of 25-10-10 fertilizer per liter of water.
1/ Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture.
Rooted cuttings of two cultivars of chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum mori
folium Ramat.), 'Giant No. 4 Indianapolis lhite' and 'Giant No. 4 Indianapolis
Yellow', were planted into two greenhouse benches containing 12 randomized plots
each. Planting was done on June 5. The plants were pinched on June 19 and
short day treatment was started on July 12.
Growth data consisted of the weight and length of the flowering stems cut
at the pinch. Twenty flowering stems were selected at random for these deter-
minations and measurement of flower diameters. Leaf samples were collected for
chemical analysis approximately 4 weeks prior to flowering. Leaf samples were
composed of the uppermost mature leaves (usually 7th or 8th leaf below the stem
tips.) A composite sample, representing each treatment, was prepared from the
two cultivars. Spectrographic analyses for phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, boron, and aluminum; and
micro-Kje 4'a 
' 
i 
d
ailysis fbr itrogen were 
peformed.
Most plants were in flower by September 11. Plants grown in media amended
with either compost exhibited a marginal burn on their older leaves. Plants grown
in peat-amended soils did not show any injury. Table 1 presents the growth data
of the plants grown in the various media. The length of the flowering stem
ranged from 83 cm (soil, perlite, and peat) to 65 cm (soil and Mobile Aid.)
Plants grown in peat-amended media (81 cm) averaged longer flowering stems than
plants grown in original compost (78 cm) and Mobile Aid compost (73 cm) amended
media.
Table 1. Growth Comparison of Cut Chrysanthemums
Grown in Several Media
Media 
Stem Stem 
Flower
length weight diameter
cm g cm
Soil and peat 1:1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81.0 90.4 13.0
Soil and original compost 1:1 . . . . . . . . 71.1 70.5 12.2
Soil and Mobile Aid 1:1 . . . . . . . . . . 65.0 62.0 11.9
Soil, peat and original compost 2:1:1 . . . . 79.8 75.0 11.9
Soil, peat and Mobile Aid 2:1:1 . . . . . . . 78.0 72.5 12.4
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 . . . . . . . 82.6 83.2 11.9
Soil, perlite and original compost 1:1:1 . . 81.0 77.0 11.9
Soil, perlite and Mobile Aid 1:1:1 . . . . . 70.1 67.0 12.2
Soil, perlite, peat and original compost
2:2:1:1 . . 80.0 80.8 12.2
Soil, perlite, peat and Mobile Aid 2:2:1:1 . . 78.5 76.9 12.7
The mean weight of flowering stems of plants grown in peat-amended media
(81.5 g) exceeded the mean stem weight of plants grown in media amended with
original compost (75.8 g) and Mobile Aid compost (69.6 g). Plants grown in
soil and Mobile Aid (62.0 g) had the smallest stem weight, and plants grown in
soil and peat (90.4 g) had the largest stem weight.
Large differences in flower diameter were not apparent in plants grown
peat (12.2 cm), original compost (12.2 cm), and Mobile Aid (12.4 cm) amended
media. Soil and peat (13.0 cm) produced the largest flowers. Most of the
media yielded flower diameters approximately equal to the experiment mean
(12.2 cm).
The foliar analysis of the plants is presented in Table 2. Plants grown in
soil and original compost had the highest nitrogen level (5.20%). Kofranek 1/
has stated that the critical nitrogen level for chrysanthemums is 4.5%. With
the exception of plants grown in soil and original compost, all the plants had
nitrogen levels below Kofranek's critical value. Phosphorus levels exceeded
the optimum range in all plants. Plant potassium and calcium levels equaled
or exceeded the optimum range in all media. Plants grown in soil and original
compost (.22%), soil and Mobile Aid (.21%), peat, soil, and Tobile Aid (.31%),
soil, perlite, and Mobile Aid (.23%) and soil, perlite, peat, and Mobile Aid
(.31%) had magnesium levels below the optimum but above the critical range.
Soil and peat (.68%) and soil, perlite, and peat (.43%) exceeded the optimum
range for magnesium. Sodium levels ranged from 770 p.p.m. (soil, peat, and
original compost) to 446 p.p.m. (soil, peat, and Mobile Aid). Optimum and
critical ranges were not available for sodium. Zinc levels were approximately
6 to 12 times the optimum range. It was not known if these zinc levels approach-
ed toxicity levels. Manganese reached a high of 1,116 p.p.m. in soil, perlite,
and compost. Toxicity from manganese has been observed in California at 800
p.p.m. on the cultivars 'Good News' and 'Detroit News' and at 1,700 p.p.m. on
the cultivar 'Albatross'. The levels of iron were below the optimum range in
all the plants; however, all the plants except those grown in soil and peat,
had iron levels above the critical range. Copper levels were below the optimum
and critical ranges in plants grown in soil and peat; soil, peat, and original
compost; soil, perlite, and peat; soil,perlite, peat, and original compost;
and soil, perlite, peat, and Mobile Aid. Boron levels in the plants exceeded
the optimum and critical ranges in all media. Indianapolis cultivars of chry-
santhemum have been reported to be quite sensitive to boron toxicity (personal
communication William J. Skou, Yoder Brothers, Barberton, Ohio). The aluminum
content of the plants ranged from 220 pp.m (soil, perlite,peat and Mobile Aid)
to 344 p.p.TM (soil, perlite, and peat). The status of aluminum in chrysanthemum
nutrition has 
not been.determined.
The above results showed the foliar analysis of 'Indianapolis' cultivars
of chrysanthemums grown in media amended with composted garbage. High levels
of boron, calcium, potassium, zinc, and manganese were observed in plants
grown in soil amended with these composts. Although 'Indianapolis' cultivars
are probably the most widely grown cut chrysanthemums, optimum and critical
nutrient levels for chrysanthemums have been based in the main on two
cultivars, 'Albatross' and 'Good News'. In addition, these cultivars differ
in their optimum and critical levels for certain elements. To better assess
the nutrient status of cut chrysanthemums grown in media amended with com-
post, an experiment was conducted using the cultivars 'Albatross' and 'CF No.
2 Good News'.
1/ Optimum and critical range supplied through courtesy of Dr. J. W. Boodley
and are based on research conducted by Dr. J. W. Boodley of Cornell
University and Dr. Anton Kofranek of the University of California at
Davis.
Table 2. Foliar Analysis of Cut Chrysanthemum Grown in Peat-,
Original Compost-and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended M.edia
Per cent by weight Concentration in p.p.m.
Media N P K Ca Mg Na Zn Mn Fe Cu B Al
Soil & peat 1:1 . . 4.02 .88 5.43 1.94 .68 660 320 708 114 12 87 332
Soil & original
compost 1:1 . . 5.20 .62 6.60 2.02 .22 550 494 900 226 36 179 338
Soil & Mobile
Aid 1:1 . . . . 4.04 .53 7.00 1.94 .21 510 402 826 194 28 236 290
Soil, peat & original
compost 2:1:1 . . 4.12 .69 6.20 2.36 .46 770 452 576 186 24 114 302
Soil, peat & Mobile
Aid 2:1:1 . . . . 4.04 .56 7.28 2.02 .31 446 384 396 146 29 157 236
Soil, perlite &
peat 1:1:1 . . . 3.94 .84 6.60 1.80 .43 580 350 570 290 24 135 344
Soil, perlite & original
compost 1:1:1 . . 3.58 .75 6.00 2.29 .38 610 558 773 202 34 129 308
Soil, perlite & Mobile
Aid 1:1:1 . . . 4.08 .71 6.60 1.83 .23 610 597 1,116 210 34 230 320
Soil, perlite, peat, &
original compost
2:2:1:1 . . 3.94 .75 5.70 2.13 .40 490 294 564 170 22 113 228
Soil, perlite, peat &
Mobile Aid 2:2:1:1 4.02 .65 6.94 1.98 .31 490 303 702 162 24 152 220
Optimum rangeI
/. 
. 5.0- .27- 4.5- 1.0- .35- ? 
20- 250- 500- 25- 50- ?
6.0 .40 6.5 2.0 .65 50 500 1,000 75 100
Critical range 4.5 .20 3.5 0.5 .14 ? 200 125 25 25 ?
I/ Optimum and critical range supplied through courtesy of Dr. J. W. Boodley
Sand are based on research 
conducted by Dr. J. W. 
Boodley of Cornell
University and Dr. Anton Kofranek of the University of California at
Davis.
Rooted cuttings of the two cultivars were planted in two greenhouse
benches on July 29. The benches were divided into four replications consist-
ing of six treatments per replication. The treatment plots were subdivided
for cultivars. Treatments are given in Table 3. The pH of each media was
adjusted to 6.0 using either dolomitic limestone or sulfur. Gypsum was added
to the sulfur adjusted media at the rate of 0.8 kg per 1 m
3
. Superphosphate
was added to all the media at the rate of 1.6 kg per 1 m
3
. Fertilization
consisted of watering with a solution containing 200 p.p.m. each of N, P, and
K. The plants were pinched on August 12 and short day treatment was started
on September 2.
Table 3. Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemum cv. 'Albatross', Grown
in Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media
Per cent by weight Concentration in p.p.m.
Media N P K Ca Mg Na Z Mn Fe Cu B Al
Soil & peat 1:1 . . 5.52 .68 5.28 .78 .32 346 76 252 102 42 114 156
Soil & compost
1:1 . . . . . . . 4.96 .50 7.42 1.07 .17 1,403 147 271 110 52 202 272
Soil, peat & com-
post 2:1:1 . . . 4.87 .51 7.89 1.12 .16 572 109 264 100 48 171 197
Soil, perlite &
peat 1:1:1 . . 5.29 .70 6.24 1.00 
.32 415 66 282 106 37 161 218
Soil, perlite &
compost 1:1:1 . 4.79 .51 7.49 1.13 .17 606 118 327 98 46 194 218
Soil, perlite, peat
& compost 2:2:1:1 4.70 .53 7.95 1.13 .17 436 98 297 102 44 159 199
Mean . . . . 1/ 5.02 .57 7.05 1.04 .22 629 102 279 103 45 167 210
Optimumrang5.0- .21- 4.5- 1.0- .35- ? 20- 250- 500- 25- 50- ?
6.0 .40 6.5 2.0 .65 50 500 1,000 75 100
Critical range 4.5 .20 3.5 0.5 .14 ? ? 200 125 25 25 ?
1/ Optimum and critical ranges supplied through the courtesy of Dr. J. W.
Boodley of Cornell University and are based on research conducted by Dr.
J. W. Boodley of Cornell University and Dr. Anton Kofranek of the University
of California at Davis.
Leaf samples were collected from the two cultivars on September 9. The
uppermost mature leaves (usually the 7th or 8th leaf, below the stem tip) were
collected. The leaves were rinsed twice in distilled water and stored in bags
in a refrigerator until drying in an oven at 800 C. The dried samples were
ground with a Wiley mill using a 2-mesh screen and analyzed for nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper,
boron, and aluminum.
Plants grown in compost-amended media generally contained more potassium,
calcium, sodium, zinc, and boron than plants grown in peat-amended media,
Tables 3 and 4. The levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium were higher
in plants grown in media containing peat than in compost amended media. The
nitrogen content of both cultivars exceeded the critical range; however,
some plants did not have a nitrogen content in the optimum range. The highest
nitrogen content was observed with 'Albatross' grown in soil and peat. The
lowest nitrogen content was found where 'CF No. 2 Good News' was grown in soil,
peat, and compost mixture. 'Albatross' averaged slightly higher nitrogen
levels than "CF No. 2 Good News'.
Phosphorus was above the optimum levels for both cultivars in all treat-
ments. Plants of 'CF No. 2 Good News' grown in soil, perlite, and peat had the
highest phosphorus content; whereas, 'Albatross' grown in soil and compost had
the lowest phosphorus content. 'CF No, 2 Good News' averaged slightly higher
phosphorus levels than 'Albatross'.
Table 4. Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemum, cv. 'CF 2 Good News',
Grown in Peat- and l-obile Aid Compost-Amended Iedia
Per cent by weight Concentration in p.p.m.
Media N P K Ca Mg Na Zn Mn Fe Cu B Al
Soil and peat 1:1 . 5.37 .75 6.15 1.21 .53 306 58 341 100 37 105 181
Soil and compost
1:1 . . . . 4.65 .54 8.49 1.56 .29 282 100 365 86 55 179 209
Soil, peat &
compost 2:1:1 . 4.53 .61 8.11 1.65 .32 272 87 315 94 43 155 222
Soil, perlite &
peat 1:1:1 . . . 5.28 .78 6.27 1.38 .51 294 57 362 103 33 109 200
Soil, perlite &
compost 1:1:1 . 4.80 .58 8.15 1.53 .30 276 96 356 81 41 157 193
Soil, perlite, peat
& compost 2:2:1:1 . 4.66 .63 8.25 1.58 .31 292 97 380 90 39 153 234
Mean . . . . . . . . 4.88 .65 7.57 1.49 .38 287 83 353 92 41 143 206
Optimum range .1/.. 5.0- .27- 4.5- 1,0- .35- 20- 250- 500- 25- 50-
6.0 .40 6.5 2.0 .65 ? 50 500 1,000 75 100 ?
Critical range . . 4.5 .20 3.5 0.5 .14 ? ? 200 125 25 25 ?
1/ Optimum and critical ranges supplied through the courtesy
of Cornell University and are based on research conducted
of Dr. J.
by Dr. J.
W. Boodley
W. Boodley
of Cornell University and Dr. Anton Kofranek of the University of California
at Davis.
Potassium levels were optimum in all treatment combinations. Some treat-
ment combinations had potassium levels greater than twice the critical level.
The highest potassium content was observed with 'CF 2 Good News' grown in soil
and compost, and the lowest potassium content was observed with 'Albatross'
grown in soil and peat. Generally, 'CF 2 Good News' plants contained more
potassium than 'Albatross' plants.
All treatments had magnesium levels below the optimum range but above the
critical level. With the exception of plants grown in soil and peat; and soil,
perlite and peat; all treatments for 'CF 2 Good News' had magnesium levels below
the optimum range but exceeding the critical level. The highest magnesium
levels occurred when 'CF 2 Good News' was grown in soil and peat. The lowest
magnesium content was observed with 'Albatross' grown in soil, peat, and com-
post.
No optimum or critical levels for sodium are available for chrysanthemums.
'Albatross', grown in soil and compost had the highest sodium levels. Lowest
sodium content occurred with 'CF No 2 Good News' grown in soil, peat, and com-
post. The average sodium content of 'Albatross' was more than twice that of
'CF 2 Good News'.
In all treatments, the two cultivars exceeded the optimum levels for zinc.
'Albatross', grown in soil and compost, had the highest zinc content of any
treatment; whereas, 'CF 2 Good News', groxn in soil, perlite, and peat had the
lowest zinc content of any media.
All plants had iron levels below the dritical level. 
The highest iron
level occurred with 'Albatross' grown in soil, perlite, and peat; whereas,
the lowest concentration occurred with 'CF 2 Good News' grown in soil, per-
ljte, and compost.
\Levels for copper were optimum for both cultivars in all treatments.
'CF 2'\Good News' grown in soil and garbage had the highest copper concen-
tration of the experiment, The lowest copper content occurred with 'CF 2
Good News' grown in soil, perlite and peat. The two cultivars differed in
copper content with 'Albatross' containing more copper than 'CF 2 Good News'.
Plants in all treatments had boron levels exceeding the optimum range.
The concentration of boron in 'Albatross' grown in soil and compost was more
than twice the optimum amount - the highest in the experiment. The lowest
boron level in the experiment occurred with 'CF 2 Good News' grown in soil and
peat.
Optimum and critical levels for aluminum in chrysanthemum are unknown.
'Albatross' grown in soil and composthad the highest aluminum concentration.
The lowest aluminum concentration occurred with 'Albatross' grown in soil
and peat.
Effect of Various Media Combinations of Peat and Original Compost on
the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Golden Yellow Princess Anne'
Most growers of potted chrysanthemums have a particular media which they
use in the production of their plants. Such media are usually combinations of
soil, organic, and inorganic amendments. Peat moss is the most commonly used
organic amendment and often constitutes 25 to 50 per cent of the media by
volume. Inorganic amendments are numerous but sand, perlite, vermiculite,
calcined clay, and slag are frequently used. Compost might be used as a
substitute for peat moss; however, the best inorganic amendments to use with
garbage compost might be quite different from the best inorganic amendment
often combined with peat moss. Furthermore, if garbage compost does contain
some toxic substance, certain inorganic amendments might absorb these sub-
stances. The leaf injury observed on some plants might be eliminated by this
absorption.
Experiments were designated to determine the effects of various media
combinations of peat, slag, calcined clay, and original compost on the growth
of potted chrysanthemums. Treatments are given in Table 5.
The pH of each media was adjusted as previously shown. Fertilization con-
sisted of 4.7 kg of 12-6-6 per 1 m
3 
of media incorporated prior to planting
and watering with a solution containing 200 p.p.m. N, 80 p.p.m. P, and 80 K.
There were five rooted cuttings of cv. 'Golden Yellow Princess Anne' chrysanthe-
mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) in each pot and five pots in each treat-
ment. Three weeks after the start of short days, the plants were sprayed with
a hormone to reduce excessive elongation. Plants were grown in a greenhouse at
a night temperature of 170 C. The first planting was made on November 15
followed by the other three plantings at 2-week intervals. The last planting
flowered on March 19.
8
Table 5. Effect of
the Height and
Various iedia Combinations of Peat and Original Compost on
Number of Flowyers per Plant of Potted Chrysanthemums,
cv. 'Golden YelloTw Princess Anne'
Media Combinations Height Flower per plant
Soil and peat 1 .. . . .0.0 . . .0.0. a0.4.0.0 28 2*9
Soil and compost 1:1............... .** * * * * 30 3.8
Soil, peat and compost 2-:1...........0 30 3.6
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 ..... 2 31
Soil, perlite -and compost 1:1:1... . .. 35 3.8
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:01:1 0 .0.0 31 3.4
Soil, calcined clay and peat 1:1a1. 0.0..0.0. 32 3.2
Soil, calcined clay and compost 1:,1:1........... 31 39
Soil, calcined clay, peat and compost 2:*2:1:01 1* 29 3.6
Soil, foundry slag and peat 121:1..... .. 30 3.6
Soil, foundry slag and compost 1:1: . .. . 31 3e7
Soil, foundry slag, peat and compost 2:-2:1:1 0 . 29 3.8
The mean height of plants and the average number of
similar for all treatments, Table 5.
flowers per plant were
Influence of Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media on the Growth of
Potted Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'
Mobile Aid compost was compared to imported German peat moss an an organic
soil amendment in production of potted chrysanthemums, s morifolium
Ramat.), cv. 'Yellow- Mfandalay'. Five rooted cuttings were transplanted per
15-cm pot using potting mixtures shown in Table 6. The pH of each soil mixture
was adjusted to 6.0 using limestone or sulfur as'needed. Gypsum, as a source
of calcium was added at the rate of 1.2 kg per 1 m
3 
and 12-6-6 fertilizer at
the rate of 4.7 kg per I m
3 
of media. After potting, all plants were ferti-
lized at each watering with a solution containing 200 p.p.m.. nitrogen, 80 p.p.m.
phosphorus, and 80 p.p.m. potassium.
Records on the height and number of flowers per plant were taken at flower-
ing on 40 plants per treatment'.
A mixture of soil, perlite, and peat produced the tallest plants (28.4 cm),
Table 6. The shortest plants were produced in soil, perlite, and Mobile Aid
(19.3 cm) . Mixtures amended with peat moss produced a greater mean height
(25.1 cm) than mixtures amended with processed garbage (20,.0 cm).
The greatest mean number of flowers per plant was produced by plants grown
in soil and Mobile Aid (4.2). Plants grown in soil, perlite and peat, and soil
and peat had the fewgest flow,,ers per plant (3.3 and 3.4, respectively.) Plants
grown in Mobile Aid amended soil (4.0) produced more flowlers per plant than
those grown in peat amended soil (3.4).
The overall appearance of all plants was satisfactory., Plants grown in
Mobile Aid-amended media did not exhibit the pronounced lower leaf injury often
observed in experiments with original compost.
9
Table 6. Influence of Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Media on the
Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yellow 
Mandalay'
Height above Flowers
Media pot rim per plant
cm No.
Soil and peat 1:1 . . . . . . . . . 21.8 3.4
Soil and Mobile Aid 1:1 . . . . . . . . . . . 20.6 4.2
Soil, peat and Mobile Aid 2:1:1 . . . . . . . 23.6 3.9
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 . . .. .. . 28.4 3.3
Soil, perlite and Mobile Aid 1:1:1 . . . . . 19.3 3.8
Soil, perlite, peat and Mobile Aid 2:1:1:2 . . 25.4 3.7
Influence of Soil Mixtures Amended with Recomposted Mobile-Aid
Compost on the Growth of Chrysanthemums, cv. 
'Yellow ilandalay'
Mobile Aid compost that had been recomposted was used as a soil amendment
in the production of three crops of potted chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'.
Table 7 presents the 18 mixtures. Five cuttings were placed in a 15 cm pot for
each treatment.
A constant fertility program by watering with a solution of 200 p.p.m.
nitrogen, 80 p.p.m. phosphorus, and 80 p.p.m. potassium was used. An appropriate
photoperiod control program was developed for each experiment to produce a flower-
ing plant. Plants were grown in a lightly shaded greenhouse and at a night
temperature of 150 C. The first crop was planted on July 24, the second on
August 7 and the third on August 21.
Growth of all plants was normal. The foliar burn previously observed on
the leaf margin of plants grown in compost amended media was not evident in these
experiments. The soluble salts level was considerably lower in recomposted than
in unrecomposted Mobile Aid and this might explain the absence of the injury.
The greatest differences between treatments occurred in the number of
flowers per plant, Table 7. Soil and peat moss plus additives had the least
number of flowers per plant (5.2). Plants grown in a mixture of recomposted
Mobile Aid and soil with CaSO4, 8-8-8 fertilizer and sulfur added at potting
produced the most flowers per plant (6.1). Several other treatments produced
as many as 6.0 flowers per plant. The addition of 8-8-8 
fertilizer at compost-
ing averaged 5.5 flowers per plant when mixed with soil and used as a growth
medium. Plants grown in 1:1 mixture of soil and Mobile Aid which had been
recomposted with NH
4
S0
4
, Ca(H2P04)2, KCl, MgS04 and NaCl averaged 5.8 flowers
per plant. This recomposted compost combination had a higher nitrate level than
those receiving 8-8-8. The addition of either AISO4, FeSO
4 
or CaMg(C03)
2 
to
the former increased the number of flowers per plant to 6.0
10
Table 7. Height and Number of Floiyers Produced by Chrysanthemum, cv. 'Yellow#
Mandalay' , Grown in 1 1 Mixtures of Soil and Mobile Aid Compost Orpeat
1:1 Soil-*CoMpost mixture, 1/
Mobile Aid recoinosted with 1.6 kg-.8-8-8 fertilizer er i
3  
us
Height Flower per plant
CM No.
0.4 kg Sulfur........... .. 31.2 5.5
2*4 kg AlS04 ... is., 31.5 5.o6
2.4 kg FeS0
4  
.41.. .. 0 .. 0 .. 31*2 5.3
244kg g9S
4 ... .. ... .. 31.2  5.4
2.4 kg NH4SO4 e 0 0. .0.0 .*.0..0.9.30.7 5.8
0.8 kg Lime-Sulfur 9 0 a .0.0.0.*.#.0.31.8 5.7
0.8 kg CaSO4 ............... 30.0 5.5
Mobile Aid recotnsposted with 1.6 kg NF1
3
4S04, 0. 8 kg Ca(H2P04)t0.4 kg KC1, 0.1 kg
1-1S04 and 0.1 kg NaCI per 
1 im
3 
plus
0. 8 kg Ca~g(C03)
2  .  .  . . . . . . . . .  31.0  6.0
0*4 kg Sulfur .... .9. . 31.0 5.4
2.4 kg AlSO
4  
- -
.  . . 
0
. .  
0
. .
0
. .
0
.  30.5  6.0
294 kg FeSO4 e . . ..e .. 30.2 6.0
294 kg g1S04 . .. .. *. .. 0 .. 30e0 60
2Ak N4O4**31.0 5.6
0*8Bkg LiineSulfur . ......... 30.5 5.5
0.8 kg CaS04 . . .9 ...0 .. 29.5 5.9
Mobile Aid recoinposted with no additions at composting
Check 0.* 0. 0. 0. 0. a.46 0 * * * 0 0 0 41 .0 .0 .0 031.0 5.8
Check plus 0. 8 kg CaS04, 1.6 kg 8-8-"8
and 0. 4kg Sulfur perl1iM
3  
.0 ..9 ..0 . 29.7 6.1
Soiad Peatplus
1.6 kg 8-8-8, 4.7 kg Ca~vg(C0
3
)2, and
1.9 kg Ca(11P0
4
)2 perl1 i
3
,. . . 0.0.. . .fie. 28.7 5.2
1/ Mobile Aid was recoinposted by moistening
weeks.
and mixing every 2 weeks for 12
11
Comparison of Three Compost Products as Soil Amendments on the
Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums, cv. 'Yellow andalay'
Three commercial compost products, Mobile Aid, Cura, and Cofuna, were
evaluated as soil amendments in experiments on the growth of chrysanthemum,
cv. 'Yellow Mandalay'. Cura is a fortified municipal compost supplied by the
International Disposal Corporation, St. Petersburg, Florida. According to the
listed analysis, Cura contains 10,000 p.p.m. nitrogen, 20,000 p.p.m. phosphorus,
and 10,000 p.p.m. potassium. Because of the extremely high readings, a reliable
Spur.ay analysis could not be obtained. The material has a pH of 5.6 and a
soluble salt reading of 1,000 mhos. Cofuna is the trademark of the French
Natural humus Company, Paris France for a humic and biological fertilizer.
Cofuna is a vegetable waste by-product. Spurway analysis of Cofuna revealed
600-700 p.p.m. nitrates, 50-75 p.p.m. phosphorus, 200-250 p.p.m. potassium
and 200-400 p.p.m. calcium. The pH was 5.4 and soluble salts read 250 mhos.
Six media were made from these amendments. The various media and the
results of Spurway analysis prior to adjustment are presented in Table 8. All
media received 1.6 kg superphosphate per 1 m
3
. The pH except for mixtures
containing Mobile Aid was adjusted to 6.5 with dolomitic limestone. Mobile
Aid media received no pH adjustment. Gypsum was added to all media except
Mobile Aid media at the rate of 1.4 kg per 1 m
3
. Mobile Aid media received
2.8 kg gypsum per 1 m
3
. All plants were fertilized at each watering through-
out their growth with a solution containing 200 p.p.m. nitrogen, 80 p.p.m. phos-
phorus, and 80 p.p.m. potassium.
Five cuttings of chrysanthemums cv. 'Yellow Mandalay', were potted in 15
cm pots with 5 pots being used per media. A single spray of a growth retardant
was applied to the plant 2 weeks after pinching in each crop. Data in Table 9
are averages of 3 plantings. Soluble salt injury was noted early in the growth
of plants grown in Cura media. Root damage was evident and the top of the
plant was chlorotic. The plants recovered from this injury in a few weeks
following repeated watering.
The height of the plants ranged from 52.1 cm (soil and Mobile Aid) to
cm( The addition of Cofuna- increased the height of the
plants in all media except Mobile Aid and soil.
Soil and Mobile Aid (5.7) and soil, Mobile Aid, and Cofuna (5.6) produced
the most number of flowers per plant, Table 9. Soil and peat had the least
number of flowers per plant (4.7). The addition of Cofuna increased the number
of flowers produced by plants grown in soil and peat, decreased the flower
number of plants grown in soil and MIobile Aid and had no effect on the flower
number of plants gromwn in soil and Cura.
Table 8. Spurtay Analysis, pH and Soluble Salts Reading
(1:5) of Media Amended with Various Composts
Spurway analysis (p.p.m.)
Media NO
3  
P K Ca pH Soluble salts
( hos)
Soil and peat 1:1 . . . . . . 2 5 10-20 20 4.0 48
Soil, peat & Cofuna 5:4:1 . . 25-50 5-10 20 50 4.3 55
Soil and Mobile Aid 1:1 . . 25-50 2-5 20 200 6.9 48
Soil, Mobile Aid & Cofuna
5:4:1 . 25-50 5 20 150 6.6 65
Soil and Cura 1:1 . . . . . 150 + 5 60-80 200 5.7 1,000
Soil,Cura & Cofuna 5:4:1 . 150 + 5-10 60-80 200 5.7 800
12
Table 9. Comparison of Three Compost Products as Soil Amendments
on the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemum, 
cv. 'Yillo' Mahdalay'
Media Height Flowers per plant
cm No.
Soil and peat 1:1 ......... . . . . 45.7 4.7
Soil, peat and Confuna 5:4:1 . . . . . . 49.5 5.1
Soil and iMobile Aid 1:1 ............ 52.1 5.7
Soil, Mobile Aid and Cofuna 5:4:1 ..... 50.3 5.6
Soil and Cura 1:1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.5 5.1
Effect of Media Containing Original Compost on the Growth of
Chrysanth emum, cv. 'Sunstar'
Potted chrysanthemums grown in media amended with original compost often
showed an injury on lower leaves while producing more flowers per plant than
plants grwm without compost. The amount of compost used in the media of
these experiments ranged from 33 to 50 per cent. The injury might be reduced
or eliminated by using smaller amounts of compost in the media; however, a
similar reduction in flower number might also be obtained. It was hoped that
the trend of increased flower number would be unaffected by a reduction in
the amount of compost in the media. Three experiments were conducted to
determine the influence of media containing various amounts of original compost
on the growth of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Pamat.), cv. 'Sunstar'.
The six media treatments are given in Table 10. The pH of each media was
adjusted to 6.5 according to lime requirement test. Dolomitic limestone or
sulfur was used for adjustment. Media not adjusted with limestone received
0.8 kg of gypsum per 1 m3. All media received 1.6 kg of superphosphate per
1 m3. Ten 15 cm pots of each media were used in each experiment. 5 g
of 14-14-14 fertilizer was added to each 15 cm pot just prior to planting.
Five rooted cuttings were planted per pot. Plants were also fertilized at
each watering with a solution containing 200 p.p.m. each of nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium. The experiments wTere conducted in a greenhouse with an appropriate
photoperiod, pinching, and disbudding schedules.
Data on the height of the plant above the pot rim and the number of flowers
per plant were recorded at flowering. Leaf samples were collected within 2
weeks of the start of short days in each experiment. The 7th or 8th leaf from
the stem tip was sampled. A composite sample was prepared from the leaves of
the three experiments for foliar analysis.
The mean height of plants grown in equal amounts of soil and compost was
more than 3 cm less than the mean height of plants grown in soil and peat,
Table 10. Media amended with 10 to 40 per cent compost produced some of the
tallest plants in the experiment. The addition of 20 per cent or more compost
to the media increased the number of flowers per plant. The most flowers per
'plant were produced in 5:2:3 soil, peat, and compost media. Media containing
more than 30 per cent compost resulted in a slight reduction in flower number.
13
Table 10. Height and Number of Flowers Per Plant of Chrysanthemum, cv.
'Sunstar' Grown in Media Containing Various
Amounts of Original Compost
Media Height Flowers per 
plant
cm No.
Soil and peat lI1 .............. 35.8 4.0
Soil, peat and compost 5:4:1 ........ 36.6 4.0
Soil, peat and compost 5:3:2 ........ 37.1 4.1
Soil, peat and compost 5:2:3 .... .... . 37.1 4.5
Soil, peat and compost 5:1:4 . . . . . . . . 36.6 4.3
Soil and compost 1:1 ............ 33.0 4.2
Table 11 presents the foliar analysis of the composite samples. Most of
the media produced plants with elements in the optimum range unless otherwise
indicated. Nitrogen was below the critical range in plants grown in all com-
post amended media except soil, peat, and compost 5:3:2. The highest nitro-
gen content occurred in plants grown in soil and peat 1:1 and soil, peat, and
compost 5:3:2. Plants grown in soil and peat 1:1 and soil and compost 1:1 con-
tained the most and least amount of phosphorus, respectively. The potassium
content of the plants was highest in soil, peat, and compost 5:4:1 and lowest
in soil and peat 1:1. Media containing more than 10 per cent compost produced
plants with levels belJ Mthe optinum magnesium levels. Plants grown in soil
and peat 1:1 contained the most magnesium. Sodium was 50 to 100 p.p.m. higher
in plants grown in compost amended media than in soil and peat 1:1. Plants
grown in media containing 10 to 50 per cent compost had two to five times as
much zinc as plants grown in soil and peat 1:1. None of the media yielded
plants with iron in the optimum range. The copper content of the plants from
all media was below the critical range. Plants grown in soil and peat 1:1,
and soil and compost 1:1 had the lowest and highest copper content, respectively.
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the
Growth of Easter Lilies
Easter Lilies (Lilium longiflorium Thumb.), a crop which is usually grown
at a high pH, were grown in various soil mixtures amended with compost. Pre-
cooled bulbs of Easter lilies, cv. 'Nellie White' and cv. 'Ace' were potted on
January 2 in the 12 soil mixtures shoin in Table 12. The pH of each mixture
was adjusted to 6.5 as shorwn above for chrysanthemums. Mixtures adjusted with
sulfur (soil and compost; soil, perlite, and compost; soil, compost, and
foundry slag; and soil, compost, peat, and foundry slag) were amended with
gypsum at the rate of 0.8 kg per 1 m
3
. Fertilization consisted of 4.7 kg of
12-6-6 fertilizer per 1 m
3 
of media plus watering with a solution containing
200 p.p.m. nitrogen, 80 p.p.m. phosphorus and 80 p.p.m. potassium. A Spurway
analysis of the mixtures was taken one month after potting and revealed that
nitrates were 5-25 p.p.m. for all mixtures except soil, perlite, and peat
(2 p.p.m.). In all mixtures the phosphorus levels were 5 p.p.m. and potassium
ranged from 5 to 10 p.p.m. Calcium was 100 p.p.m. or above except in soil and
peat, and soil, perlite and peat. Two months after potting, nitrates were low
(0-10 p.p.m.) in all mixtures except soil and peat, and soil, peat, compost,
and foundry slag. Phosphorus had dropped to 2 p.p.m. in soil, perlite and com-
post; and soil, compost, and foundry slag. Potassium was adequate (25 p.p.m.)
in soil and compost; soil, perlite, and peat; and soil, compost, and foundry
slag. Calcium was adequate (100-150 p.p.m.) in soil and compost; soil, perlite,
Table 11. Foliar Analysis of Chrysanthemum, 
cv. 'Sunstar' Grown in Media
Containing Various Amounts of Original Compost
Elerients
Per Cent by WeightConcentration in p.p.m.
Media N 
P K Ca Na Zn 
Fe Cu B
Soil and peat 1:1 . . . . 4.60 1.25 4.97 2.02 .77 
1,140 67 216 130 17 57 27
Soil, peat and compost
5:4:1 . . . . . 4.32 1.10 5.80 2.16 .60 1,200 122 
288 130 19 53 34
Soil, peat and compost
5:3:2 . . . . . 4.60 .98 5.18 2.29 .34 1,090 
197 390 122 18 67 22
Soil, peat and compost
5:2:3 . . . . . 4.02 .91 5.22 2.50 .35 
1,170 203 366 146 18 63 38
Soil, peat and compost
5o1:4 . . . . . 4.00 .90 5.20 2.74 .33 
1,240 254 486 130 20 76 20
Soil and compost 1:1 . . . 4.15 .72 5.60 
3.15 .35 1,200 320 390 146 23 
76 45
Mean . . . . . . . . . . . 4.28 .98 5.33 2.48 .46 1,173 195 
356 134 19 65 31
Optimum range 1/ . . . . . 5.0- .27- 4.5- 1.0- .35- ? 
20- 250- 500- 25- 50- ?
6.0 .40 6.5 2.0 .65 50 500 1,000 15 
100
Critical range . . . . . 4.5 .20 3.5 0.5 .14 ? ? 
200 125 25 25 ?
1/ Optimum and critical ranges are supplied through the courtesy of Dr. J. W. Boodley 
of Cornell University
and are based on research conducted by Dr. J. W. Boodley of Cornell University and Dr. Aton Kofranek
of the University of California at Davis.
8
4
0
2
8
0
4
H'
15
and compost; and soil, compost, and foundry slag. Following 
each soil test
the fertility was adjusted to a range 
considered adequate.
Fifteen pots of each of the cultivars were used in 
the 12 media treat-
ments. The heights and numbers of flowers per plant were 
determined on the
first 10 plants to flower.
Soil media was found to influence plant height, Table 12. The 
greatest
mean height (41.9 cm) was produced when the lilies 
were grown in soil and com-
post. The shortest mean heights were produced by plants grown in soil, 
cal-
cined clay, peat, and compost (33.9 cm), and soil, calcined 
clay, and compost
(34.0 cm). 'Ace' produced the tallest plants when grown 
in soil and compost
(50.5 cm) and the shortest plants when grown in soil, calcined clay, peat, and
compost (35.3 cm). The tallest and shortest plants for 'ellie 
White' were
grown in soil and peat (34.8 cm) and soil, calcined clay, 
and compost (30.0 cm),
respectively. Considering the various media combinations, soil 
and either or
both of the organic materials (38.8 cm) and soil, 
perlite and peat, compost or
both (38.9 cm) produced the tallest plants. The 
combination of soil, calcined
clay, and organic amendment produced the 
shortest plants (35.4 cm); however,
soil, foundry slag, and organic amendment averaged approximately 
the same height
(36.0 cm). Media containing peat produced lilies with a mean 
height of 33.5
cm and media containing compost produced lilies with 
a mean height of 30.0 cm.
Table 12. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on
the Mean Height of 'Ace' and 'Nellie White' Easter Lilies
'Nelliw
edia 'Ace White' Mean
cm cm cm
Soil and peat 1:1 . . . ........... . . 43.0 
34.8 38.9
Soil and compost 1:1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.5 
33.3 41.9
Soil, peat, and compost 2:1:1 . . . . . . . . . 39.5 31.5 
35.5
Soil, perlite, and peat 1::1 . . . . . . . . 45.0 
31.8 38.4
Soil, perlite, and compost l:l: . . . . . . .
48.3 31.3 39.8
Soil, perlite, peat, and compost 2:2:1:1 .
. . 44.0 32.8 38.4
Soil, calcined clay, and peat 1:1:1 . . . . . .
43.8 33.0 38.4
Soil, calcined clay, and compost 1:1:1 . . . .
38.0 30.0 34.0
Soil, calcined clay, peat and compost
2:2:1:1 . . . . 35.3 32.5 33.9
Soil, foundry slag, and peat 1:1:1 . . . .
. 41.3 33.3 37.3
Soil, foundry slag, and compost 1:1:1 . . . . 37.8 
33.3 35.6
Soil, foundry slag, peat, and compost
2:2:1:1 . . . . 37.6 32.5 35.1
The mean number of flowers per plant ranged 
from 6.2 ('Ace' grown in soil,
K clay, and compost) to 3.3 ('Nellie 
White' grown in soil, foundry slag, and
peat; and soil, calcined clay, and compost), 
Table 13. 'Ace' lilies produced
the most flowers when grown in soil,calcined 
clay and peat (6,2.a... e the..wst
flowers when grown in soil, foundry 
slag, and compost (3.5). Flower number 
was
greatest for 'Nellie White' in soil and 
peat (4.3), and soil, calcined clay,
and peat (4.3). 'Ace' (5.1) averaged 
more flowers per plant than 'Nellie White'
(3.9). Considering media, the highest 
mean number of flowers occurred where
plants were grown in soil, calcined clay, and peat (5.3). 
Soil, foundry slag,
and compost yielded the fewest flowers 
per plant (3.5).
16
Table 13. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended edia
on the Nean iumber of Flowers per Plant of
'Ace' and 'Nellie Ihite' Easter Lilies
'Nellie
Media 'Ace' White' Mean
Soil and peat 1:1 .............. 5.1 4.3 4.7
Soil and compost 1:1 . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8 4.1 5.0
Soil, peat and compost 2:1:1 . ......... 4.9 4.0 4.5
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1 ......... . . 4.6 4.0 
4.3
Soil, perlite and compost 1:1:1 . . . . 6.0 4.1 5.1
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:1 . . . 5.7 4.0 4.9
Soil, calcined clay and peat 1:1:1 . . . 6.2 4.3 5.3
Soil, calcined clay and compost 1:1:1 .... 5.3 3.3 4.3
Soil, calcined clay, peat and compost
2:3:1:1 . . . 4.4 4.1 4.3
Soil, foundry slag and peat 1:1:1 . .. . 5.5 3.3 4.4
Soil, foundry slag and compost 1:1:1 . ... 3.5 3.Z 3.5
Soil, foundry slag, peat and compost
2:2:1:1 . . 4.2 3.4 3.8
Influence of Peat and Original Compost-Amended Media and Constant Fertilization
with and without a Single Application of Iron Chelate on the Grcwth of Geranium
Rooted, cultured cuttings of the geranium (Pelargonium hortorum Bailey)
cultivars 'Blaze', 'Dark Red Irene', 'Eleanor', and 'Summer Cloud' were potted
on April 24 with mixtures as shown in Table 14: (1) soil and peat 1:1; (2)
soil and compost 1:1; (3) soil, peat, and compost 2:1:1; (4) soil, perlite,
and peat 1:1:1; (5) soil, perlite, and compost 1:1:1; (6) soil, perlite, peat,
and compost 2:2:1:1. The pH of the mixtures was adjusted to 6.0 and fertilizer
applied as shown previously for Easter lilies. Iron chelate at the rate of 1.5
mg per liter of solution was added once to the water applied to one-half the
pots in each treatment. Plants were grown one plant per 15 cm pot and each
treatment contained four pots, The greenhouse was lightly shaded and cooled to
210 C during the day. On July 10 the dry weight was determined on two of the
plants in each treatment.
Plant dry weight was greatest when the plants were grown in either soil,
perlite, and peat or soil, perlite, peat, and compost, Table 14. Plants grown
in soil and compost yielded the least dry weight (15.7 g). Considering the
organic amendments, plants grown in peat-amended soils (20.9 g) produced more
dry weight than plants grown in compost-amended soil (16.6 g). 'Eleanor' had
the greatest plant dry weight (23.5 g) and 'Dark Red Irene' had the least
(13.5 g). The single application of iron chelate increased the plant dry weight
of geraniums in all media. Plants which received iron chelate averaged 19.6 g
whereas plants which did not receive chelate had a mean of 18.2 g. It was not
determined whether the effect of the chelate was a result of the application
of iron, a reduction in pH, or both. Symptoms of iron chlorosis had been observed
in preliminary tests on other plants.
17
Table 14. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended 
Media
of the Mean Dry Weight of Four Geratium 
Cultivars.
Cultivars
'Dark Red 'White
Media 'Blaze' Irene' 'Eleanor' Cloud' Mean
g g g g g
Soil and peat 1:1...............19.0 14.8 26.5 21.2 20.4
Soil and compost l:1............14.5 11.2 20.9 16.3 15.7
Soil, peat and compost 2:1:1....17.3 14.5 19.8 18.1 17.4
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1....21.5 16.4 26.0 21.1 21.3
Soil, perlite and compost 1:1:1.17.3 11.2 22.1 
19.4 17.5
Soil, perlite, peat and
compost 2:2:1:1........20.8 12.9 27.5 23.9 21.3
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the Growth
of Gloxinia
Seedlings of Gloxinias (Sinningia speciosa Benth. and Hook.) cv. 'Panzer
Scarlet' and cv. 'Missle Series' were transplanted into 13 cm pots on March 1.
Two soil mixtures were used in transplanting: soil and peat 1:1, and soil and
original compost 1:1. Each treatment was composed of 25 pots of each cultivar.
The pH of the mixtures was adjusted to 6.0 using dolomitic limestone on the'
peat-amended media and sulfur on the compost-amended media Gypsum was added
to the compost-amended media at the rate of 1.4 kg per 1 m. Superphosphate
was added to the two media at the rate of 1.6 kg per 1 m
3
. Plants were ferti-
lized every 2 weeks with 25-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 3.1 g per liter
of water. Plants were grown in a shaded greenhouse.
Observations were made on the growth of the plants. The dry weight of
10 plants of each cultivar in each treatment was taken at flowering.
Plants of both cultivars flowered earlier when grown in the soil and
compost mixture than when grown in the soil and peat mixture. Most flowering
occurred early in July; however, some of the compost-grown plants 
flowered in
late June. The foliage of plants 
grown in the soil and compost mixture 
was
a lighter green than the foliage of peat-grown plants. The two most striking
differences between plants grown in the two mixtures were leaf shape and size.
Peat-grown plants had the normal oblong-ovate leaf shape; whereas, the
leaves of compost-grown plants were oblong, almost strap-like or nearly ob-
lanceolate. The leaves of plants grown in soLl and peat were approximately
30 to 40% larger (mostly in width) than the leaves of compost-grown plants.
18
Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media on the Growth
of Two Flowering Groups of Snapdragons
Two crops of snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus L.) were grown 
to study the
influence of peat and compost on their growth. The first crop 
consisted of
snapdragons belonging to the flowering response Group II which is recommend-
ed for winter flowering in the South. Seedlings of the cultivars 'Jackpot',
'Twenty Grand', and 'Sakata No. 148' were benched on January 18. The 
second
crop consisted of snapdragons belonging to the flowering response 
Group IV
which is recommended for summer flowering in the South. 
Seedlings of the
cultivars 'Potomac White' and 'Potomac Pink' were benched on March 
7. A
spacing of 10 x 10 cm was used on both crops. All plants 
were grown single
stem. The seedlings were transplanted into six media 
as shown in Table 15.
The pH of the media was adjusted to 6.0. Fertilization consisted 
of watering
every 2 ks.with a solution containing 3 g of 25-10-10 fertilizer 
per liter
of water.
At flowering, 20 plants from each media were cut at the soil line; and
from these samples, plant height, plant weight, and flower head or spike
length were determined. Five plants from each media were 
stripped of all
foliage, cut to 50 cm in length and weighed. A weight/height reading was
thus obtained as an index of stem strength.
Plants were the shortest (89.4 cm) when grown in soil, perlite, 
and
peat, Table 15. Soil, perlite, and compost produced the tallest plants
(86.8 cm) and soil, peat, and compost, (73.3 cm), and soil and compost
(73.5 cm) averaged the shortest plants for the Group II snapdragons. Soil,
peat, and compost (111.5 cm) and soil, perlite, and compost (98.3 cm) yield-
ed the tallest and shortest plants, respectively, 
for the Group IV snapdragons.
The mean plant fresh weight ranged from 78.3 g (soil, peat, and compost)
to 48.3 g (soil and compost), Table 16. The media had little effect on fresh
weight of Group II plants. Soil, peat, and compost (112.3 g) produced Group
IV plants more than twice as heavy as plants grown in soil and 
compost (52.2 g).
The greatest differences in the mean length of flower head or spike 
oc-
curred between soil and compost (22.9 cm), soil, 
perlite, and compost (22.9
cm), soil, perlite, and peat (22.8 cm); and soil and peat (19.8 cm), Table
17. Group II snapdragons produced the longest spikes in soil, perlite, and
compost (24.5 cm) and the shortest spikes in soil and peat (17.0 cm). In
the Group IV snapdragons, spike length was greatest in soil and compost
(27.3 cm) and least in soil, perlite, and compost (21.3 cm).
Soil, perlite, peat, and compost (.028 g/cm) yielded plants with the
strongest stems as measured by weight/height ratio, Table 18. Plants grown
in soil, perlite, and compost (.019) had the smallest ratio. Group IV
cultivars produced the largest and smallest weight/height ratios when grown
in soil, perlite, peat, and compost (.041 g/cm) 
and soil, perlite, and com-
post (.041 g/cm), and soil, perlite and peat (.023 g/cm), respectively.
19
Table 15. Influence of Peat- and Original
Media on the Mean Height of Two
of Snapdragons
Compost-Amended
Flowering Groups
Group Group
Media II IV Mean
Cm Cm cm
Soil and peat 11......... **. 7. 110.3 94.3
Soil and compost:..............................o73.o5 109.3 91.4
Soil, peat and compost 2:#l.....................073.3 
111.5 92.4
Soil, perlite and peat::......................076.8 102.0 89.4
Soil, perlite and compost l:l:l...................86.8 98.3 92.6
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:*2:1*lo...........82.O 113.0 97.5
Table 16., Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended
Media on the Mean Fresh Weight of Two Flowering
Groups of Snapdragons
Group Group
Media I IV Mean
Soiliand peat 1:1...... .. .. . . . .. .. . . . .. .. . . 42.8 81.5 62.2
Soil and compost:..............................44.4 52.2 48.3
Soil, peat and compost 2::1...4 *00000000000060.45*3 112.3 7.3
Soil, perlite and peat::.......,..............44.3 69.4 56.9
Soil, perlite and compost l:l:l............,......46.9 73.3 60,1
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:#2:l:l...........4398 71.8 57.8
Table 17. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost'-Amended
Media on the Mean Flower Head Length of Two Flower-
ing Groups of Snapdragons
Group Graup
MedacmI cVMa
20
Table 18. Influence of Peat- and Original Compost-Amended Media
on the Weight/Height Ratio of Stems of Two Flowering
Groups of Snapdragons
Group Group
Media II IV Mean
g/cm g/cm g/cm
Soil and peat l:1..............1................ 014 .030 .022
Soil and compost 1:............................. 016 .029 .023
Soil, peat and compost 2:1:1..................... .016 .035 .026
Soil, perlite and peat 1:1:1..................... .016 .023 .020
Soil, perlite and compost l:1:l,,.......*....... .016 .041 .019
Soil, perlite, peat and compost 2:2:1:1......... .015 .041 .028
Growth and Foliar Analysis of Miniature Carnations in Compost-Amended
Media
The optimum pH range for carnations is 5.5 to 7.0 which is higher than
the optimum for many other floricultural crops. Boron, calcium, and potas-
sium are nutrient elements which often require special consideration in
carnation culture. Compost might be useful in the culture of carnations
since it has a high pH and contains considerable amounts of boron, calcium,
and potassium.
Miniature carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) were selected for these
experiments because they can be grown at a higher temperature than standard
carnations, thus are better suited to Southern culture. The cultivars,
'Elegance' and "White Elegance's were selected since current nutrient level
standards forminiature carnations are based on 'Elegance' cultivars.
In one experiment media treatments were as shown in Table 19. Alive
compost is a product of the Lone Star Organic Plant, Houston, Texas. Ten
15 cm pots of each of the two 'Elegance' cultivars were planted in each
media on August 7. Plants were fertilized by watering with a solution con-
taining 200 ppm nitrogen and 160 ppm potassium. Plants were grown in an
air-conditioned greenhouse with the temperature maintained between 16 and
210 C.
Foliar analysis samples were taken on October 10. At the time of
sampling, plants grown in Alive compost had not produced enough leaves for
an adequate sample. All the leaf tissue above the fifth node was taken
for tissue analysis. All plants had at least 7 pair of leaves at the time
of sampling. The leaves were dried in a forced draft oven at 800 C for 24
hours. When dry, the tissue was ground in a Wiley Mill to pass through a
20-mesh screen. Analysis of the tissue samples were made for nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, iron,
copper, boron, and aluminum.
21
Five months after planting, the dry weight of five plants per treatment
was obtained for each cultivar. Plants were cut at the soil line, placed in
paper bags, dried in an oven at 80
0
C for 24 hours and then weighed.
The growth of plants In compost was not as good as the growth of plants
in the soil, peat and perlite. Planits grown in Alive compost appeared stunt-m
ed. The mean dry weight of plants grown in Alive compost was 7.4 g, in
Mobile Aid 24.0 g, and in the soil mixture 27.1 g, Table 19.
Table 19. Mean Dry Weight of cv. 'Elegance' and cv.
'White Elegance' Carnations Grown in Unamended
Composts and Unamended Soil Mixture
Cultivar
Media Elegance' 'White Elegnce' Mean
ggg
Alive compost.. *...... .0.0..... .. .... 07.0 7.7 7.4
Mobile Aid compost.................26.l 21.9 24.0
Soil, peat'and perlite l:l:l.*********o30*8 23.4 27.1
Foliar analyses of plants grown in Mobile Aid and in soil, peat and
perlite are presented in Table 20. Plants grown in Mobile Aid 
contain more
potassium, calcium, zinc, and>". I boron than plants grown in soil, peat
and perlite. Plants grown in a soil, peat, and perlite mixture contained
more nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, manganese, iron, and aluminum
than plants grown in Mobile Aid.
Table 20. Foliar Analysis of 'Elegance' Carn~tosGoni
Compost and in Amended Soil Medi
Me d ia N P K Ca Mg Na Zn Mn Fe Cu B Al
Mobile Aid
compost 3.60 .44 5.32 3.07.62 318 835 72 74 15 108 64
Soil, peat, and
perlite. 4.22 .79 4.93 1.73 .90 660 505 144 98 16 46 112
11Figures represent means of 2 cultivars, 'Elegance' and 'White Elegance,
An experiment utilizing Mobile Aid as a soil amendment for carnation
culture in greenhouse benches was established on August 7. The media treat-
mts were as given in Table 21. The pH of the four media was adjusted to
6.5 using either dolomitic limestone of sulfur. Gypsum at the rate of 0.8
kg per 1 m
3
was added to the media 'that was adjusted with sulfur. All media
22
received superphosphate at the rate of 1.6 kg per I m
3
. Fertilization con-
sisted of watering with a solution containing 200 ppm nitrogen and 160 ppm
potassium. Plants were grown in an air-conditioned greenhouse with the
temperature maintained between 16 and 21
0
C. The carbon dioxide content of
the atmosphere was enriched with a CO
2 
generator from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Treatments were randomized in blocks with three replications. The two
'Elegance' cultivars appeared in each treatment. Leaf samples were collected
64 days after planting of the rooted cuttings and prepared for spectrographic
analysis.
Early growth of plants grownm in compost-amended media was retarded. Four
months after planting, both cultivars were in flower in the peat-amended soil
but were not in the compost-amended soil. The height of the plants grown in
compost-amended media was approximately 15 cm less than that of plants grown
in peat-amended soil.
More nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were found in plants
grown in peat than in compost, Table 21. Tissue of plants grown in compost-
amended media contained more calcium, sodium, manganese, copper, and boron
than plants grown in peat-amended media. Plants grown in soil and peat con-
tained the most nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and aluminum but the least
calcium of the media treatments. More phosphorus but less sodium and boron
were found in plants grown in soil, perlite, and peat than the other media.
The tissue of plants grown in soil and compost contained more sodium and boron
but less magnesium than the other treatments.
Table 21. Foliar Analysis of Miniature Carnations Grown
in Peat- and Mobile Aid Compost-Amended Medial'
Per cent by weight Concentration in ppm
Media N P K Ca Mg Na Zn Mn Fe Cu B Al
Soil and peat
1:1 3.90 .65 4.57 1.34 .87 730 575 290 87 12 70 108
Soil and compost
1:1 3.41 .44 4.31 2.12 .52 2622 646 335 86 15 145 88
Soil, perlite
and peat 1:1 3.75 .69 4.47 1.45 .72 457 654 262 93 12 65 83
Soil, perlite and
compost 1:1 3.29 .45 4.18 2.31 .59 1382 608 365 89 15 128 89
1/ Figures represent means of two cultivars, 'Elegance' and 'White Elegance'
replicated three times.
Plants grown in soil, perlite, and compost contained the most calcium but
the least nitrogen and potassium of the four media. According to standards
established by Nelson and Boodley, all plants were low in nitrogen but contained
sufficient amounts of phosphorus, pottasium, calcium, and magnesium.
23
Effect of Various Additions and Recomposting on the Chemical
Analysis of Original Compost
Phytotoxicity was observed in plants grown in compost-amended media.
The margin of older leaves of chrysanthemums, petunias, and snapdragons
appeared burned or scorched when grown in garbage compost media. Poor leaf
color, resembling nitrogen dificiency, was often observed. Tests revealed
that original compost contained excessive soluble salts, low nitrogen and
phosphorus, and high pH. Some of the problems encountered resembled those
reported in saline and alkali soils.
To investigate these problems, experiments were conducted on recom-
posting with various chemical additions used in garden composting or in
amending alkali soils.
Mobile Aid compost which had been composted at the processing plant
for an estimated 12-16 weeks was mixed with various chemicals to lower
the pH and soluble salts and increase fertility. Spurway analysis of the
Mobile Aid prior to treatment revealed nitrates 0-2 p.p.m., phosphorus
0-1 p.p.m., potassium 20-40 p.p.m., and calcium 150-300 p.p.m. The compost
had a pH of 8.6 and a soluble salt reading of 70 mhos (1:5 dilution).
Treatments are shown in Table 22. Following treatment, the Mobile Aid was
recomposted for 3 months. Every 2 weeks the treatments were moistened
and remixed in a cement mixer. Recomposting was conducted in wooden
baskets.
Spurway Analysis, pH and Soluble Salts of
Compost 3 Months after Treatment
Mobile Aid
Spurway analysis (p.p.m.) Soluble
Treatment NO
3  
P K Ca pH salts (mhos)
1.6 kg 8-8-8 Fertilizer per m
3 
plus -
0.4 kg Sulfur i0 1 20-40 200 7.2 34
2.4 kg AlSO
4  
10 1 20-40 200 8.2 29
2.4 kg FeSO
4  
10 0.5 20-40 200 8.5 31
2.4 kg MgSO
4  
5-10 1 20-40 200 8.5 30
2.4 kg NH
4
SO
4  
10 1 20-40 200 8.1 29
0.8 kg Lime-sulfur 2-5 1 20-40 200 8.5 33
0.8 kg CaSO
4  
5-10 1 20-40 200 8.4 34
1.6 k NH4SO
4
, 0.8 kg Ca(H2P0
4
)2, 0.4 kg KCl, 0o.1 kg MgSO
4
, and o.l kg NaCi
per m plus -
0.8 kg CaMg (CO
3
)
2  
25 1 20-40 200 8.3 33
0.4 kg Sulfur 10-25 1 20-40 200 8.2 28
2.4 kg AlSO4 10-25 1 20-40 200 8.1 30
2.4 kg FeSO
4  
10 1 20-40 200 8.1 30
2.4 kg MgSO
4  
10 1 20-40 200 8.2 Z6
2.4 kg NH4SO
4  
10-25 0.5 20-40 200 8.2 30
0.8 kg Lime-sulfur 5-10 0.5 20-40 200 8.2 27
0.8 kg CaSO
4  
10-25 1 20-40 200 7.9 27
No treatment
Control 2-5 0.5 20-40 200 8.6 31
Table 22.
24
Nitrate levels were increased 
to 10-25 p.p.m. when the 
fertilizer
consisting of NH4S0
4
, Ca(H2P04)
2
, KC1, MgSO4, and NaCl 
plus either CaMg
(CO
3
)
2
, sulfur, AlSO04 
or CaSO4 was 
added to the 
compost, Table 
22. Com-
binations of 8-8-8 fertilizer 
plus other chemicals 
did not raise the ni-
trates above 10 p.p.m. 
Recomposted Mobile Aid, 
which received no chemical
treatment had 2-5 p.p.m. 
nitrates. Phosphorus and 
potassium were not in-
fluenced by treatment. 
All treatments had 200 p.p.m. 
calcium. The pH of
the compost resisted change. 
Recomposted Mobile Aid 
without chemical treat-
ment had a pH of 8.6. 
The greatest change 
in pH occurred with 
the addition
of 8-8-8 fertilizer plus sulfur which resulted in a pH of 7.2. The NH
4
SO
4
fertilizer plus CaSO4 
reduced the pH to 7.9. 
In all treatments, soluble
salts decreased from 70 nhos 
to 26-34 mhos. Leaching 
was probably respon-
sible for this reduction 
since the unamended 
check had a reading 
of 31 mhos.
Chemical treatment had 
little effect on soluble 
salts.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Compost products of the 
Municipal Compost Plant 
of the City of Mobile,
Alabama were used in 
experiments as a potting 
media for ornamentals. 
Two
composts were used. One 
contained a small amount 
of sewage, was coarsely
ground and was referred 
to as original compost. 
The second contained 
no
sewage, was finely ground 
and was marketed by the 
City of Mobile under 
the
name Mobile Aid. The 
nutrient composition 
of the two composts were 
similar
A large amount of plastic 
was prominent in the original 
compost but the
plastic was not noticeable 
in the Mobile Aid 
since it was finely 
ground.
Conclusions from the experiments 
were as follows:
1. The composts were 
dificient in nitrogen 
and phosphorus when 
used
as a media for plant 
growth.
2. Composts were not 
as satisfactory as peat 
in potting media for
ornamentals.
3. Mobile Aid compost 
was generally more satisfactory 
than original
compost for potting media.
4. Foliar analysis 
of carnations and chrysanthemums 
grown in compost-
amended media revealed high concentrations 
in the tissue of aluminum,
boron, calcium, copper, 
manganese, potassium, 
sodium, and zinc.
5. Mobile Aid increased 
flower number in chrysanthemums.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
An expression of appreciation 
is extended to all the 
people who parti-
cipated in this research; 
to the Public Health Service, 
who made it possi-
ble; to W. C. Martin, 
Jr., who cared for the 
plants and aided in collecting
data; to Dr. James Boodley 
of Cornell University 
for his suggestions and
help; to G. Jay Gogue 
who carried out much of 
foliar analysis work on 
cut
chrysanthemums and to 
numerous undergraduate 
students who served as 
techni-
cians.