Agricultural Effects of Application of Pig Manure and Cow Manure Composts with Different Maturity Extent on Seedling of Chinese Cabbage and Muskmelon

Abstract

Pig manure and cow manure were composted naturally at the same condition. The 15 th, 25 th, 35 th, 50 th day compost were fertilized on Chinese cabbage and muskmelon and seed germination and growing influence were analyzed. The aim was to obtain the agricultural effects of application of pig manure and cow manure composts with different maturity extent(CDME). The results showed that the highest temperature of cow manure was higher than pig manure in the process of compost, and the high temperature period of cow manure was longer than pig manure. The contents of total nitrogen of two manure decreased firstly and then increased, while nitrogen concentration increased continually. Both of two treatments achieved harmless standards after 35 days. Cabbage plant height and main root length, muskmelon seeding weight and main root length were not affected significantly by CDME, but seeding emergence and root activity of cabbage and muskmelon were influenced significantly by CDME. And so as the fresh weight and yield of cabbage which were observed when composts of pig manure composting for 25 days and cow manure composting for 15 days showed significant inhibition to plants. The correlation between OC, DOC and biological traits were significant or extremely significant. The correlation between nitrate-N/ammonium-N and GI or root activity were significant or extremely significant, which were not consistent with the current indicators of compost maturity. It is worthy of attention to formulate standards for compost maturity and achieve a great balance between nutrient loss in composting process and agricultural effect in field for compost application.