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Does the heat treatment applied to vermicompost affect its impact on soil biological dynamics?

agricultural-science
soil-science
agronomy
sustainable-agriculture

Abstract

The EU regulations require commercially produced vermicompost to undergo heat treatment to ensure the elimination of pathogens. However, there are concerns that this practice may have a negative impact on the benefits of vermicompost. The topic has become the subject of considerable controversy among state regulatory bodies and vermicompost producers, as it also has economic ramifications. Surprisingly, there are very few studies that either support or refute these concerns. This study was conducted to address this knowledge gap. In the study, heat-treated (HTV) and untreated (VC) vermicompost were used to cultivate batavia-type lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) variety 'Caipira' in a greenhouse over two consecutive seasons, and the biological parameters of the soil were monitored. According to the results, HTV applications were found to be more effective than VC in influencing soil biological properties such as urease, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase (except in the second season), denitrification and bacterial count in the bulk soil during both cultivation seasons. In rhizosphere soil, urease and dehydrogenase and bacterial count were affected by HTV in both growing seasons, while VC was found to be more effective in the first season, and HTV in the second season for alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, nitrification, and denitrification. HTV applications in high rates receiving seedlings from growing medium with HTV were notable. Heat treatment slightly suppressed the biological properties of vermicompost but did not negatively affect its impact on soil microbial dynamics. Successive vermicompost applications had a slight negative effect on microbial dynamics (particularly dehydrogenase activity and bacterial count) possibly due to the accumulation of nutrient elements in the soil but it did not pose a threat of salinity to plant production. The findings of the present study appear to contradict the prevailing notion that the heat treatment destroys the beneficial effects of vermicompost on soil biological properties. Therefore, this study offers a renewed perspective on vermicompost and commercial vermicompost production and may lead to more comprehensive studies.
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