The Effect of Non-Composted andComposted Soil on Nutrient

Concentrations in Green Beans

ByNicol, Scott, and Jenn

Hypotheses

There is no difference between non-compostedand composted soils

There is no difference between the green beans grown in non-composted and composted soils

Procedure

SOILS

• pH

• Total C and N, NH4+, NO3

-

• Total and Available Elemental Analysis Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg,

Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Zn, Si, Ag

• CEC

Procedure

GREEN BEANS

• Total C and N

• Total Elemental Analysis Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg,Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Zn, Si, Ag

Statistical Analysis

• Paired T-test

• 95% confidence interval

• 99% confidence interval

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

DI* KCl

Soil pHp

H

CaCl2

Non-compost Compost

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

C*

%

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

N*

%

Non-compost Compost

Soil C and N Concentrations

Soil C/N Ratios

15

16

17

18

19

C/N

Non-compost Compost

012345678

g/g

Non-compost Compost

Soil NH4+ and NO3

-

Concentrations

NH4+ * NO3

- *

34

36

38

40

42

C

Green Bean C and N Concentrations

2.953

3.053.1

3.153.2

3.25

N%%

Non-compost Compost

0

5

10

15

20

C/N

Non-compost Compost

Green Bean C/N Ratios

Soil Cation Exchange Capacity

0

5

10

15

20

CEC*

Non-compost Compost

cmol

c/kg

1

10

100

1000

10000

As Ba Ca* Cu* K Mn Na P S Zn

Significant Total Soil ElementConcentrations

Log

g/

g

Non-compost Compost

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

Al B Cd Cr Fe Mg Mo Ni Pb Se Si

Non-Significant Total Soil ElementConcentrations

Log

g/

g

Non-compost Compost

Significant Available Soil ElementConcentrations

0.1

1

10

100

1000

10000

Ca Cu K Na P

Log

g/

g

Non-compost Compost

Mg

0.1

1

10

100

Al As Ba Fe Mn Ni Pb S Zn Si

Log

g/

gNon-Significant Available Soil

Element Concentrations

Non-compost Compost

0

1000

2000

3000

Na

0

10

20

30

40

50

Si

g/

g

g/

g

Non-compost Compost

Significant Total Green Bean Element Concentrations

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

Al As B Ba Fe Mn Ni Pb S Zn

Log

g/

g

Non-compost Compost

Non-Significant Total Green Bean Element Concentrations

Ca Cu K Mg Na P

• Total C and N were significantly greater in composted soil, but not in green beans

• Total and available Na were greater in composted soil, but Na was greater in non-composted green beans

• Si was not different between non-composted and composted soils, but was greater in non-composted beans

Summary

• Total and available Ca, Cu, K, Na, and P were greater in composted soil, but were not different in green beans

• Total Mg was not different in soil or green beans, but available Mg was greater in composted soil

Summary (cont.)

Conclusion

• Plant genetics may control green bean nutrient concentrations rather than soil nutrient concentrations

Future Research

• Uniform treatments for composted and non-composted soil (e.g. turning both soils not just

compost)

• Account for the mass of green beans grown in composted and non-composted soil

• Compare different varieties of green beans grown in both composted and non-composted soil