Compost from decentralized composting models used for improving soil quality and plant-rhizosphere microbial community response to salinity stress.
Alessandra N, Paola G, Anna BC, Chiara C, Cristina ÁA
Soil Health
If your garden soil is getting saltier from road runoff, irrigation buildup, or coastal spray, the type of compost you reach for actually determines whether your plants recover or keep struggling.
Salt in the soil is a serious problem for plants, and scientists wanted to know if compost could help. They tested four different composts — two made from urban food and yard waste, two from farm materials — on rosemary plants in salty soil. The city-made composts worked best, helping plants grow better in salty conditions, though all composts did raise levels of antibiotic-resistance genes in the soil, which is something researchers are keeping an eye on.
Key Findings
Urban composts (community and decentralized) outperformed farm-based composts at improving plant biomass under salt stress conditions
Soil microbial activity increased in response to salinity stress regardless of compost type, suggesting microbes have a built-in osmotic defense mechanism
All compost types and salinity conditions increased antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil, raising One Health concerns about compost sourcing
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers tested four types of compost on rosemary plants growing in salty, degraded soil and found that urban composts — made from household organic waste and yard trimmings — most effectively helped plants survive salt stress while improving overall soil health.
Abstract Preview
The new EU Soil Monitoring Directive establishes the regulatory framework for assessing soil health and mitigating critical threats like salinity and contamination in degraded soils. While it promo...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Urban Tree Canopy Reduces Heat-Related Mortality by 39% in European Cities
Trees in your local park or street aren't just pretty — they are literally keeping people alive during heatwaves, and planting even a modest number of the ri...
Salvia rosmarinus, synonym Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and purple or sometimes white, pink, or blue flowers. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae.