Effects of organic-waste compost addition on sesame growth, yield and chemical composition

The agronomic aspects of some organic waste compost applications to sesame plants grown on sandy soil were investigated. Different rates and combinations from biosolids (BS), municipal solid waste (MSW) and water hyacinth (W) compost, incorporated with or without shale deposits (tafla) at 8%, were used to treat the sandy soil. Dry matter accumulation was used as an indicator of the effectiveness of such treatments on plant growth. In addition, the contents of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium, chlorophyll, total protein, oil and carbohydrates were determined in plant tissue as physiological parameters. Heavy metal contents (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb) in seeds samples were determined. Results indicated that all compost treatments stimulated sesame growth and enhanced its pigment, carbohydrate and mineral contents. While the chemical constituents of sesame seeds (oil, carbohydrate and total protein) showed no variation when expressed as relative data (%), the absolute results expressed as gram per plant exhibited significant increases. The maximum levels (mu g g(-1)) of tested metals in seeds did not exceed 226 Fe, 12.5 Mn, 81.7 Zn, 23.7 Cu, 3.8 Co, 24.6 Ni, 5.4 Pb and 1.72 Cd, which are below the reported concentrations at which phytotoxicity could occur.