COMPOSTING OF GREEN WASTE AND PHOSPHATE WASHING SLUDGE AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOMATOES (Lycopersicon esculentum L)

The present study focused on the composting of green waste from quack grass and sludge from the washing of natural phosphates and their agronomic valorization. The physic-chemical parameters of waste and final product including temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorus and ash levels, as well as the agronomic valorization was evaluated. The studied wastes reached maturity and stability after 3 months of composting with a C/N and NH4+/NO3- ratios of 12.39 and 0.11 respectively. Three doses of 5%, 10% and 20% of the compost were incorporated into the greenhouse tomato-growing medium. After 9 weeks of cultivation, the compost effectively improved the growth of Lycopersicon esculentum L. The 5% dose significantly increased growth parameters of tomato plants followed by doses 10 and then 20 % compared to the control. Indeed, the 5% dose increased the shoot height, the number of leaves, the leaf area, shoot and roots dry weight by 66, 55, 333 and 100% respectively compared to the control plants. Tomato plants amended with compost maintained higher relative water content (86%) than control plants (79%). While photosynthesis parameters exceeded 0.7 in the amended plants as opposed to the control plants, which did not exceed 0.64.