FISHWASTE COMPOST EFFECTS ON RHODODENDRON GROWTH AND NITROGEN LEACHING AND TRANSFORMATION

Availability and leachability of N in fishwaste compost should be cons idered before it is used as growing media for nursery stock. This stud y examined N availability and leaching, and transformation of organic N constituents in fishwaste compost (HGF) as well as the effect of the compost on growth of rhododendron (Rhododendron fortunei 'Scintillati on'). With an initially high inorganic N concentration, the compost en hanced growth of rhododendron during its first bush of growth. Because of extensive N leaching, this beneficial effect was short-lived. Peri odic additions of N fertilizer at 150 mg N kg(-1) were required to imp rove growth of rhododendron. Approximately 45% of inorganic N present initially in the HGF was leached regardless of the proportions of HGF in the mixtures. With N uptake by the plants representing a small frac tion of inorganic N added, the inorganic N lost not accounted for prob ably was lost by denitrification and/or ammonia volatilization. Most N fertilizer applied as NH4NO3 to 100% bark was also leached. Concentra tions of labile amino acids changed significantly in 4 mo, from 53.6% to <5% of total organic N in the HGF. Similar reduction also occurred for amino sugars. Even with such a magnitude of change in the two labi le N fractions, there was no marked increase in inorganic N in the lea chate 2 wk after transplanting and in growth of rhododendron. A large proportion of amino acids and amino sugars present in the compost init ially were probably transformed to a more stabilized organic N form.