SUITABILITY OF COMPOSTED BLUEGRASS RESIDUES AS AN AMENDMENT IN CONTAINER MEDIA

Postharvest plant residues from Kentucky bluegrass (Pea pratensis L,) seed production may be useful as an organic amendment in container mix es. Postharvest residues of 'South Dakota' bluegrass were composted wi th and without an N amendment, such as cattle manure (M) or alfalfa se ed screenings (As), After composting, all residues were ground to 4- t o 6-mm segments and mixed with sphagnum peat and perlite (2:1:1 by vol ume), Media that contained amended bluegrass residues had higher elect rical conductivity (EC) values and lower C : N ratios (<19:1) than med ia made with other bluegrass residues, Tomato (Lycopersion esculentum Mill, 'Laura') seedlings grown in residue composted with As had at Lea st 3.5- and 4-fold more shoot dry weight and leaf area, respectively, than plants grown in any other composted medium, In addition, seedling s grown in composted bluegrass residues amended with As had 34% and 41 % more shoot dry weight and leaf area than plants grown in a 75% peatm oss-25% perlite medium, Composted residue amended with alfalfa seed sc reenings appears to be suitable as a peatmoss extender in container me dia.