Comparison of fresh and composted organic waste in their efficacy for the improvement of arid soil quality

The effects of fresh and composted urban wastes on the organic matter of an arid soil were evaluated. The quality of the arid soil was improved with o rganic amendment. This improvement was more evident in soils amended with f resh residues (municipal solid waste and sewage sludge) than in those with compost. The latter, though having a less spectacular action, showed higher amounts of humic substances and fulvic and humic acids at the end of the i ncubation. The different carbon fractions of the soil amended with fresh re sidues showed significantly higher mineralized rates than with compost. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.