Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65

Agricultural use of three (sugar-beet) vinasse composts: effect on

crops and chemical properties of a Cambisol soil in the
Guadalquivir river valley (SW Spain)
Engracia Madejón∗ , Rafael López, José M. Murillo, Francisco Cabrera
Institute for Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS), CSIC Avenida Reina Mercedes, 10. P.O. Box 1052, 41080 Seville, Spain
Received 15 July 1999; received in revised form 9 February 2000; accepted 6 June 2000

Abstract
Disposal of concentrated beet-vinasse, a high-density syrupy waste from the sugar industry, constituted an environmental
problem. Vinasse can be recycled as a fertiliser due to its high organic matter, N, and K contents. However, the direct
application of vinasse is constrained by its high salinity (EC 250–300 dS m−1 ; Na 28 g kg−1 ) and high density (1.3 g cm−3 ).
These problems can be overcome by co-composting the vinasse with other solid wastes. A study was conducted in the
Guadalquivir river valley, SW Spain, in Coria del Rı́o, Seville. Three mixtures of a concentrated depotassified vinasse and
solid wastes were co-composted in static windrows. The composts obtained were used in field experiments to study the effect of
their application as deep fertiliser on three crops: corn (Zea mays L.); sugar-beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and sunflower (Helianthus
annuus L.). The effect on chemical properties of a Xerochrept (Cambisol) soil after 2 years of compost application and after a
further year of residual effect was also studied. A treatment with traditional inorganic fertiliser (applied as deep fertilisation)
and an unamended soil (Control) were used for comparison purposes. Generally, the application of composts or inorganic
fertiliser significantly increased crop yield when compared with the Control treatment. At the end of the experimental period,
soil oxidizable-C, total humic extract-C and humic acids-C contents significantly increased in soils treated with composts
when compared with Control and inorganic fertiliser treatments. Organic fertilisation also increased the Kjeldahl-N content
of the soil. A slight increase of soil salinity was observed both in the composts and in the inorganic fertiliser treatments.
Nevertheless, this increase did not cause sodium hazard to the soil. Co-composting of vinasse with agricultural residues
serves two objectives: disposal of wastes and recycling of waste components. Furthermore, vinasse composts can be used as
an alternative to mineral fertilisers. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Crop yield; Guadalquivir river valley; Plant nutrient uptake; Soil nitrogen; Soil organic matter; Soil salinity; Sugar-beet vinasse
composts

1. Introduction a high organic matter (OM) and salt contents (bio-

The distillation of beet molasses for the produc-
tion of alcohol generates a dark brown effluent with
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +34-95-4624711;
fax: +34-95-4624002.
E-mail address: emadejon@irnase.csic.es (E. Madejón).
chemical oxygen demand, BOD 60–70 kg O2 l−1 ;
electrical conductivity, EC 25–30 dS m−1 ) known as
vinasse, which annual production in SW Spain is
about 50×103 Mg. Until a few years ago, vinasse was
kept in evaporation ponds, which could cause environ-
mental problems (ground water contamination, strong
smells, appearance of insects and other nuisances).

0167-8809/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 1 6 7 - 8 8 0 9 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 1 9 1 - 2
56 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65

Currently vinasses are concentrated for subsequent static windrows, under cover, with forced aeration and
use (animal feeding, potassium salts production). The controlled conditions (i.e. aeration, moisture and tem-
excessive salt content (EC, 250–300 dS m−1 ) of con- perature) for 3 months (Dı́az et al., 1993; Dı́az, 1998).
centrated vinasse produced in southern Spain limits its The initial composition of the mixtures was: (1) 82%
use for animal feeding. However, its OM (350 g kg−1 ), grape-marc and 18% vinasse (compost G); (2) 76%
N (30 g kg−1 ) and K (30 g kg−1 ) contents make it olive pressed cake, 17% vinasse and 6% leonardite
potentially useful as a fertiliser, although with some (compost O); and (3) 47% cotton gin trash, 49%
constrains due to its salinity, high density (1.3 g cm−3 ) vinasse and 3% leonardite (compost C). These pro-
and low P content (P2 O5 0.12 g kg−1 ) (Murillo et al., portions were mainly based on the vinasse-sorption
1993; Martı́n-Olmedo et al., 1996). Some of these capacity of each solid waste, on the optimum moisture
problems may be overcome by co-composting the content and on the optimum free air space (FAS) of the
vinasse with other solid agricultural wastes (Dı́az mixtures for an optimum composting process (Dı́az,
et al., 1996; Madejón et al., 1996a) to obtain an or- 1998). During the composting process, the piles were
ganic product suitable for use as a fertiliser. The use of watered regularly to maintain moisture content about
organic fertilisers has a positive effect on soil fertility. 50–60%. After this period, the composts were left
The improvement of physical, chemical and biochem- to mature for the following 4 months. Tables 1 and
ical soil properties by the use of organic fertilizers has 2 show some relevant characteristics of the vinasse
been shown in numerous reports and the efficiency used in the composting process and the composition
of them could be observed long time after the appli- of the three resulting composts, respectively. Heavy
cation (Giusquiani et al., 1995; Martı́n-Olmedo et al., metal concentrations of the vinasse composts were
1996; Entry et al., 1997; Pascual et al., 1997). very low to expect any hazard to soil or crops, and
Moreover, vinasse composts can be stored, and eas- below the limits established by Spanish legislation
ily and uniformly applied to land, acting beneficially (BOE, 1998).
as fertiliser and soil conditioner. The application of
safe compost with a high nutrient content could be
one of the most economical and suitable approaches
of solving two problems: waste disposal and increas- Table 1
ing soil fertility. Characteristics of the concentrated despotassified vinasse used for
Composts obtained by co-composting the vinasse composting (oven dry bases)a
have been reported to have positive effects on the nu- Mean s.d.b
tritional status, growth and yield of sugar-beet, cotton
and corn (Madejón et al., 1995, 1996a, b). pH 4.70 0.17
Density (g cm−3 ) 1.24 0.20
This paper deals with the effect of three vinasse Dry matter (g kg−1 ) 400 47
composts, applied as a deep fertiliser, on crops (corn OMc (g kg−1 ) 280 5.6
and sugerbeet) and on some chemical properties of a CHA d (g kg−1 ) 0.76 0.05
soil, over two successive compost applications. Resi- CFA e (g kg−1 ) 86 12
dual effect of the compost on a third crop (sunflower) Kjeldahl-N (g kg−1 ) 25 5.2
NO3 -N (mg kg−1 ) 997 250
was also evaluated. Results were compared with those P (mg kg−1 ) 333 51
obtained under traditional mineral fertilisation and K (g kg−1 ) 30 10
without application of any fertilisation to the soil. Na (g kg−1 ) 28 10
Fe (mg kg−1 ) 203 26
Zn (mg kg−1 ) 15 4.0
2. Material and methods Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb (mg kg−1 ) <5 –
Cr, Cd, Hg (mg kg−1 ) <1 –
a Data are the means of 10 samples.
2.1. Composts preparation b s.d.: standard deviation.
c OM: organic matter.
Three mixtures of a concentrated depotassified dC
HA : humic acid-C.
e C : fulvic acid-C.
vinasse and other residues were co-composted in FA
 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65 57

Table 2
Characteristics of the vinasse composts (oven dry basis)a
Compost G Compost O Compost C

Mean s.d.b Mean s.d.b Mean s.d.b

Moisture (g kg−1 ) 298 31.5 255 35.0 157 19.0

ECc (1:5) (dS m−1 ) 11.9 1.44 14.0 1.04 20.8 1.80
pH (1:5) 8.7 0.19 8.5 0.15 8.4 0.15
OMd (g kg−1 ) 500 15.0 708 48.7 501 14.0
Kjeldahl-N (g kg−1 ) 21.0 1.40 10.1 1.20 25.7 4.90
NO3 -N (mg kg−1 ) 323 55 92.0 11.7 678 39.0
CHA e (g kg−1 ) 26.4 2.20 27.0 2.02 16.9 1.24
CFA f (g kg−1 ) 20.0 3.23 17.9 1.95 43.9 1.54
C/N 12 – 35 – 9.6
CEC (cmolc kg−1 ) 147 14.6 76.0 3.53 138 9.35
P (g kg−1 ) 3.89 0.79 0.74 0.32 1.55 0.37
K (g kg−1 ) 11.2 1.19 7.88 0.34 17.6 2.23
Na (g kg−1 ) 16.6 1.70 13.4 1.30 24.5 2.40
Fe (mg kg−1 ) 3628 210 3244 133 2770 163
Mn (mg kg−1 ) 43.0 8.58 26.4 2.76 20.8 3.04
Cu (mg kg−1 ) 55.8 5.16 22.9 5.02 39.4 5.72
Zn (mg kg−1 ) 123 13.2 30.7 5.69 75.3 5.83
a Data are the means of 10 samples.
b s.d.: standard deviation.
c EC: electrical conductivity.
d OM: organic matter.
eC
HA : humic acid-C.
f C : fulvic acid-C.
FA

2.2. Field experiment design 1993), corn (Zea mays L. ‘Dakar’) was cropped (7.1
plants m−2 ) under irrigation (439 mm) and with the
The composts were used in field experiments to following amounts of composts and inorganic fer-
study the effect of their application on crops and on tiliser, applied as a deep fertilisation: 15 000 kg ha−1
the chemical properties of a calcareous loamy sand of compost G (treatment G), 35 000 kg ha−1 of com-
soil classified as Xerochrept (Soil Survey Staff, 1996) post O (treatment O), 7500 kg ha−1 of compost C
or Cambisol (FAO, 1988). Soil was located in the
Guadalquivir river valley, SW Spain (37.2◦ N, 6.1◦ W), Table 3
at the experimental farm La Hampa in Coria del Rı́o, Some characteristics of the soil (Guadalquivir river valley SW
Seville. Textural and chemical characteristics of the Spain)
soil are in Table 3. Mean s.d.a
The following treatments were established for 2 Sand (g kg−1 ) 794
years in plots of 5×7.5 m: treatments G, O, C (in which Silt (g kg−1 ) 106
each of the corresponding composts was applied as a Clay (g kg−1 ) 100
deep fertiliser), IF treatment (in which an inorganic pH 8.1 0.1
fertiliser was used), and a Control treatment (without ECSP b (dS m−1 ) 1.7 0.3
CaCO3 (g kg−1 ) 88 3.25
the application of any fertilisation). Four replicates per OMc (g kg−1 ) 8.0 0.22
treatment were randomly established in a complete Kjeldahl-N (mg kg−1 ) 700 58.0
block design. Available-P (mg kg−1 ) 16 4.00
The experiment was performed following the con- a s.d.: standard deviation.
ventional rotational practices in the area (corn–sugar- b ECSP : electrical conductivity of the saturated paste extract.
beet–sunflower). In the first period (March–October c OM: organic matter.
58 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65
(treatment C), and 1000 kg ha−1 of a complex 15
N–15 P2 O5 –15 K2 O fertiliser (treatment IF). All
treatments except the Control, also received two
top-dressings each of 300 kg ha−1 of urea (460 g kg−1
of N) applied 40 and 60 days after sowing. In
the second period (November 1993–June 1994),
sugar-beet (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Taurus’) was cropped
(10.6 plants m−2 ) under reduced irrigation (167 mm),
having applied 14 000 kg ha−1 of compost G (treat-
ment G), 22 000 kg ha−1 of compost O (treatment
O), 14 000 kg ha−1 of compost C (treatment C), and
600 kg ha−1 of a complex fertiliser 9 N–15 P2 O5 –18
K2 O (treatment IF). Treatments G, O, C and IF also
received two top-dressings each of 90 kg ha−1 of urea
(460 g kg−1 of N) applied 35 and 70 days after sowing.
Treatments O and C also received 158 and 122 kg ha−1
of superphosphate (350 g kg−1 P2 O5 ) respectively,
to balance the amount of P applied in the three or-
ganic fertilisations. After the second application, the
total amount of N added by deep fertilisation was:
435±30 kg ha−1 for treatment G, 445±57 kg ha−1 for
treatment O, 460±90 kg ha−1 for treatment C and
204 kg ha−1 for treatment IF. In the third year sun-
flower (Helianthus annuus L. ‘Florasol’) was cropped
(7 plants m−2 ) without fertilisation (residual effect)
and under very reduced irrigation (71 mm). Sunflower
was chosen to evaluate residual effect because it is
a plant that currently used in the area as scavenger
crop.
Rainfall during the experimental period was:
March–October 1993 (first crop period) 150 mm;
November 1993–June 1994 (second crop period)
82.4 mm; July 1994–February 1995 (bare soil period)
193 mm; March–July 1995 (third crop period) 40 mm.
2.3. Sampling and plant analysis
At the end of each growth period, six complete
plants were randomly collected from each plot to es-
timate the nutrient uptake. Plant material was dried
at 70◦ C after washing with water followed by two
successive rinses in distilled water. Afterward, drying
samples were ground to pass 40 mesh screen and
stored in plastic vials. The nitrogen content was de-
termined by Kjeldahl digestion (Jones et al., 1991).
Phosphorus, K and Na content were measured in plant
material according to Jones et al. (1991) following
dry ashing and ash solution by treatment with hot
concentrated HCl. Sodium and K were determined by
flame photometry and P by colorimetric determination
using the phosphovanadomolybdic complex.
2.4. Sampling and soil analysis
At the end of each crop period, six soil samples
(0–30 cm) were randomly taken from each plot to
make composite samples that were air dried and
ground to 0.5 mm. Soil pH was determined in the 1:5
soil/water extract, electrical conductivity in the satu-
rated paste extract (ECsp ), Kjeldahl-N by the method
described by Hesse (1971), available-P using the
Olsen et al. (1954) method and total oxidizable organic
C (Cox ) using the Walkley and Black (1934) method.
Soil nitrate was extracted by shaking with deionised
water for 30 min and analysed by nitrate-selective
electrode (Davies et al., 1972). To determine humic
extract (HE), soil samples were extracted with 0.1 M
sodium pyrophosphate and 0.1 M sodium hydroxide.
The supernatant, containing HE, was acidified to
pH 2 with HCl and allowed to stand 24 h at room
temperature. To separate fulvic acids (FA) from hu-
mic acids (HA), the solution was centrifuged and
the precipitate containing HA was dissolved with
sodium hydroxide (Yeomans and Bremner, 1988).
The carbon of humic extract (CHE ) and humic acids
(CHA ) was determined by the method of Walkley and
Black (1934).
Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable-
Ca (Cax ) and exchangeable-Mg (Mgx ) were deter-
mined by saturating the sample with 1 M ammonium
chloride solution in ethanol/water (60:40 v/v) at pH
8.4 (Tucker, 1954), and exchangeable-Na (Nax ) and
exchangeable-K (Kx ) by saturating with 1 M ammo-
nium acetate at pH 7 (Richards, 1954). Extracted Ca
and Mg in the alcoholic ammonium chloride solution
were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotom-
etry, and extracted Na and K in the ammonium acetate
solution by flame photometry.
2.5. Statistical method
The results were analysed by ANOVA, consider-
ing the treatment as the independent variable. The
means were separated by the Tukey’s test, consi-
dering a significance level of p<0.05 throughout the
study.
 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65 59

3. Results and discussion

Vinasse composts, as other composts of different

origin, have low concentrations of nutrients in com-
parison with inorganic fertilisers (Table 2). Moreover,
nitrogen in composts usually form organic compounds
from which inorganic N is released to soil through low
rate mineralisation processes (Chae and Tabatabai,
1986). Therefore, the compost application rate neces-
sary to satisfy the complete nutritional requirement of
crops is usually high, ranging 40–100 Mg ha−1 (Hor-
nick et al., 1984). The use of a high amount of vinasse
composts could constitute a risk due to their high
salinity. In this study, a combination of vinasse com-
posts and urea (and superphosphate for O and C com-
posts for sugar-beet crops) was used to complete the
nutritional requirements of corn and sugar-beet crops.

3.1. Crop performance and nutrient uptake

Vinasse composts did not cause either an adverse

effect on plant emergence or phytotoxicity symptoms
in plants. These observations confirmed the good de-
gree of maturity of the composts, accordingly to the
results of the maturity tests performed previously by
Dı́az (1998).
Composts (treatments G, O and C) and inorganic
fertiliser (IF treatment) increased corn yield in relation
to the Control, although differences were only statis-
tically significant for treatment C (Fig. 1a). This poor
response of yield to treatment could be due to the fact
that the soil had previously been cropped and well fer-
tilised for years, and therefore treatment and residual
effects could overlap. However, a second application
of composts or inorganic fertiliser to the soil increased
yield of the second crop (i.e. sugar-beet), with differ-
ences in relation to the Control being significant for
all the treatments (Fig. 1b). In plots treated with both
composts G and C, sugar-beet yields were even higher
than in plots treated with inorganic fertiliser. The low Fig. 1. Effect of treatment on yield of corn (a), sugar-beet (b)
sugar-beet yield in Control plots was caused by the and sunflower (c). In each plot, values with the same letter do not
differ significantly (p<0.05).
depletion of nutrients of the soil after 2 years without
fertilisation and after cropping corn.
Sunflower yields showed the residual effect of explained on the basis of the different N-mineralisation
the composts (Fig. 1c). Compost treatments showed rates of the composts. Madejón (1996) reported that
higher yields than IF and Control treatments. How- compost O had the lowest rate of mineralisation and
ever, differences between treatments were only statis- that its application to soil causes N-immobilization
tically significant for compost O. These results can be during a period after application. Therefore, the effect
60 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65

Table 4 uptake was observed for sugar-beet (second crop)

Mean values of nutrient uptake (N, P, K) and Na in corn, sugar-beet (Table 4). Mean values of nutrients (N, P and K) and
and sunflowera
Na in sugar-beet from compost and IF treatments
Treatment N P K Na were significantly higher than the mean values in
(kg ha−1 ) (kg ha−1 ) (kg ha−1 ) (kg ha−1 )
plants from the Control treatment. Differences be-
First crop (corn) tween fertilised treatments can be explained once
Control 171 a 28.8 a 204 a 31.5 a
G 262 b 29.6 ab 341 c 51.3 b
more on the basis of the different N-mineralisation
O 243 b 27.1 ab 300 b 47.8 b rates of the composts. The presumable low N avail-
C 280 b 32.3 b 307 b 53.5 b ability in soil treated with compost O, could cause
IF 281 b 32.8 b 287 b 46.8 b less plant development and nutrient uptake.
Second crop (sugar-beet) It is interesting to note the significant residual effect
Control 36 a 2.8 a 52 a 41 a of composts G and O as shown by nutrient (N, P, K)
G 502 c 26.2 c 477 c 328 c uptake in the sunflower. Mean concentrations of Na
O 98 b 6.0 b 106 b 73 b
in sunflower plants from all the treatments were very
C 256 c 13.6 c 202 c 199 c
IF 327 c 17.2 c 381 c 221 c similar and did not depend on the fertiliser application
of the previous 2 years.
Third crop (sunflower)
Control 53 a 8.0 a 93 a 13 a
G 108 b 16.0 b 152 b 17 a 3.2. Soil chemical properties
O 111 b 14.0 b 192 c 19 a
C 64 a 10.2 a 121 b 16 a The application of composts also had noticeable
IF 64 a 8.0 a 106 a 15 a effects on certain soil chemical properties. Mean val-
a Values followed by the same letter in the same column for ues of soil pH after cropping did not show any effect
the same crop do not differ significantly (p<0.05). caused by the application of composts (Fig. 2), as
might be expected from the pH values of the soil and
of compost O on crops could be noticeable only long composts, and from the calcareous nature of the soil.
time after the application (during sunflower crop). On
the other hand, composts G and C were reported to 3.2.1. Soil salinity
have high rates of mineralisation (Madejón, 1996), The effect of compost application on soil salinity
and thus their effects on crops were perceptible im- (ECsp ) was detected after the last two crops (Fig. 2).
mediately after their application (during corn and At the end of the second crop period all the mean
sugar-beet crops). values of ECsp of the soils increased as compared to
Yield quality measured by (1) kernel weight per the first crop period, and the mean values of the soils
ear (corn); (2) polarisation and ␣-amino N, Na and K treated with composts were higher than those of the
content in root juice (sugar-beet); and (3) lipid con- Control and treated with IF. However, the differences
tent in seed (sunflower), were similar in organic and were only statistically significant for the soil treated
inorganic treatments (Madejón, 1996). Therefore, the with compost C, because of the high EC of this com-
application of compost did not adversely affect yield post (Table 2). Meagre precipitation during this period
quality. (82 mm) accounts for the increase of salinity of the
The mean values of nutrients (N, P and K) and Na soils of all the treatments. After the third crop all the
uptake by crops are shown in Table 4. Corn uptake mean values of ECsp decreased and the highest mean
of N, P, K and Na was similar in composts and IF values were found in soils treated with composts O
treatments, and significantly higher than those in the and C, although these values did not differ signi-
Control treatment. Despite the low P concentration of ficantly from the mean value of the Control. From
the composts (Table 2), mean values of P in corn from the end of the second crop to the end of the third
compost treatments were comparable to that from IF crop rainfalls of 233 mm, although below the annual
treatment. mean rainfall of the area (500 mm), contributed to the
The greatest differences between fertilised treat- dissolution and mobilisation (leaching) of salts, and
ments and the Control treatment in nutrient plant consequently to the redistribution of cations between
 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65 61

Fig. 2. Mean values of pH, electrical conductivity of the soil saturated paste solution (ECsp ) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP)
in soil of treatments Control (䊊), G (䊐), O (4), C (䉫) and IF (5) after each crop. Vertical bars are standard errors.

the soil solution and the soil exchange complex.
The corresponding increases of values of exchange-
able sodium percentage (ESP) will be commented
below (Fig. 2). Throughout the experiment, ECsp
values of the soils treated with the vinasse composts
were always lower than 4 dS m−1 — the traditional
value above which soils present a salinization hazard
(Richards, 1954). Values above 2 dS m−1 — a more
restricted limit used taking into account salt tolerance
of crops (Bresler et al., 1982) — were frequent, espe-
cially after the second crop. However, permanent ac-
cumulation of salt is not expected in this rather coarse
soil. Nevertheless, due precautions should be taken
when repeatedly applying either of these composts to
soils with restricted drainage or on unirrigated lands.
3.2.2. Soil organic matter
One of the clearest effects of compost application
was the increase in the soil organic matter content. Af-
ter each crop, mean values of total oxidizable C (Cox )
in soils treated with the three composts were higher
than in soils from the other treatments, the differences
being statistically significant in most cases (Fig. 3).
The same trend was observed for the mean values of
C in the humic extract (CHE ). The humic acid frac-
tion (CHA ) content of soils increased consistently and
62 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65

Fig. 3. Mean values of total oxidable organic C (Cox ), C in the humic extract (CHE ), C in the humic acids (CHA ) and cation exchange
capacity (CEC) in soil of treatments Control (䊊), G (䊐), O (4), C (䉫) and IF (5) after each crop. Vertical bars are standard errors.

significantly following the application of compost G
and (especially) compost O. However, mean values of
CHA of soils treated with compost C were in general
similar to those of soil treated with IF. These low val-
ues are related to the low humic acid content of com-
post C (Table 2) and to the amount applied, both the
humic acid content and the amount being lower than
those of the other two composts.
Mean values of Cox , CHE and CHA of soil Control
and soil treated with mineral fertiliser decreased after
the second and third crops (Fig. 2). However, in soils
treated with the three composts, mean values of Cox ,
 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65 63

CHE and CHA increased slightly or remained approxi-
mately constant after the second application, and de-
creased after the residual effect period. At the end of
the residual period mean values of Cox , CHE and CHA
in soils previously treated with compost were 1.4–1.5,
2.5–2.9 and 2.3–3.6 times greater, respectively than
the mean value in the Control. This organic matter en-
richment was higher than that observed after the resid-
ual period in the soil treated with mineral fertiliser
(IF), in which Cox was equal to that of the Control,
and CHE and CHA were 1.4 and 1.7 times greater than
the Control, respectively. Therefore, the use of these
composts contributes to maintain soil organic matter
and soil humic substance levels higher than applying
inorganic fertilisation. This increase is especially in-
teresting in Andalucı́a — the region of study — where
the levels of organic matter in agricultural soils are
normally lower than 10 g kg−1 (Costa et al., 1991).
3.2.3. Soil cation exchange capacity
As expected from the evolution of Cox , CHE
and CHA , mean values of CEC of the soils treated
with compost increased after the second crop, and
decreased after the residual period crop. However,
mean values of CEC of soil Control and soil treated
with mineral fertiliser decreased throughout the ex-
periment (Fig. 3). As expected from the values of
Cox , CHE and CHA , after the second and third crops,
mean values of CEC in soils treated with composts
were also greater than in the soil Control and in the
soil treated with mineral fertiliser. Accordingly, after
the second and third crops, Cax , Mgx , Kx and Nax
mean values of soils treated with compost were often
significantly greater than those of the Control soil
(Table 5). Fig. 2 shows that the mean values of ESP
of all the soils increased throughout the experiment
but did not reach sodicity critical values. Especially
noticeable is the increase of ESP values at the end of
the experiment. During the last stage of the experi-
ment the increase of rainfall contributed to maintain-
ing salts dissolved in the soil solution and to reach
the equilibrium between dissolved and exchangeable
cations. The historical criterion for distinguishing be-
tween sodic and nonsodic conditions has been ESP
equal to 15 (Richards, 1954). Although when the
influence of soil texture is considered, ESP critical
values range from 10 to 20 for fine- to coarse-textured
soils. Higher ESP values can be tolerated for soils
of low clay content or for soils having low contents
of swelling clay (smectite) minerals (Bresler et al.,

Table 5
Soil mean values (0–30 cm) of exchangeable cations (Cax , Mgx , Nax , Kx ) after each cropa
Treatment Cax (cmolc kg−1 ) Mgx (cmolc kg−1 ) Nax (cmolc kg−1 ) Kx (cmolc kg−1 )
After the first crop (corn)
Control 5.43 a 3.74 a 0.72 a 0.44 a
G 5.84 a 4.18 a 0.60 a 0.52 a
O 6.05 a 4.36 a 0.51 a 0.43 a
C 5.73 a 3.47 a 0.58 a 0.62 a
IF 5.82 a 3.89 a 0.76 a 0.46 a
After the second crop (sugar-beet)
Control 4.18 a 3.34 a 0.69 a 0.39 a
G 6.33 b 4.33 bc 0.75 ab 0.53 b
O 5.26 ab 4.61 c 0.64 a 0.48 ab
C 6.64 b 4.13 abc 0.97 b 0.53 b
IF 6.39 b 3.48 ab 0.77 ab 0.48 ab
After the residual period (sunflower)
Control 4.15 a 3.32 b 0.74 ab 0.28 a
G 4.71 a 2.87 ab 0.62 ab 0.56 c
O 4.88 a 2.51 a 1.04 b 0.49 b
C 4.68 a 3.54 b 1.08 b 0.44 b
IF 3.94 a 2.75 ab 0.66 a 0.45 b
a Values followed by the same letter in the same column and for the same period do not differ significantly (p<0.05).
64 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65

1982). The increase of ESP at the end of the residual mineralisation for each compost. Compost C had the
period seems to be related to the lack of salt leaching highest potential rate of mineralisation (31 mg N kg−1
because of the drought period, and is specially impor- per week), compared to compost G (18.1 mg N kg−1
tant in soils treated with composts O and C, which still per week) and compost O (2.24 mg N kg−1 per week).
had the greatest salt concentration at the end of the These results account for the differences in the accu-
third crop. The relatively high salt concentration in the mulation of soil organic-N found after compost appli-
soil solution favours invasion of the soil exchangeable cation: accumulation of organic-N is inversely related
complex by Na. Nevertheless, final values of ESP in to values of potential rate of mineralisation.
those soils (loamy sand), 11.7 and 11.1, respectively, After each cropping period, a general increase in
are still far from the critical values for sodium hazard the NO3 -N was observed in the compost-treated soils,
for coarse-textured soils. although differences compared to the Control were
not significant, except for treatments G and O after
3.2.4. Soil nitrogen the third crop (Table 6). This seems to indicate that
Kjeldahl-N of the soil increased after each com- the nitrate leaching below the root zone (a noticeable
post application, although differences compared to the feature in SW Andalusia, Moreno et al., 1996) may be
Control and IF treatments were only statistically sig- negligible when these composts are applied employing
nificant in treatments G and O (Table 6). At the end adequate agricultural practices.
of the third crop (residual period) mean values of
Kjeldahl-N in compost-treated soils were higher than 3.2.5. Soil phosphorus
in Control and IF treatment soils, although differences Despite the amounts of P applied to each crop in
were only significant for treatment O. As mentioned treatment IF being greater than in vinasse compost
above, incubation experiments of organic-N mineral- treatments, mean values of available-P in soil after
isation (Madejón, 1996) showed different rates of N the first crop were very similar for all the treatments.
After the second and third crops the mean value of
available-P of the soil in treatment IF was significantly
Table 6 greater than those in the other treatments (Table 6).
Soil mean values (0–30 cm) of Kjeldahl-N, NO3 -N and available-P However, these differences were not shown in the
(Olsen) after each cropa
total P uptake of sugar-beet and sunflower plants
Treatment Kjeldahl-N NO3 -N Available-P (Table 4) because throughout the experiment
(mg kg−1 ) (mg kg−1 ) (mg kg−1 ) available-P contents of soils of all treatments were
After the first crop (corn) adequate for the three crops.
Control 719 a 9.6 a 12.5 a
G 1043 bc 11.7 a 15.8 a
O 1100 c 6.9 a 13.4 a
C 832 ab 13.3 a 13.1 a 4. Conclusion
IF 730 a 13.8 a 14.3 a
After the second crop (sugar-beet) Repeated application of moderate amounts of three
Control 648 a 8.0 a 12.1 a sugar-beet vinasse composts to a calcareous loamy
G 1008 b 13.9 a 13.6 a sand soil had a positive effect on soil organic mat-
O 1492 b 12.3 a 13.4 a ter, humic substance and Kjeldahl-N contents, and
C 889 ab 15.5 a 12.3 a
on cation exchange capacity. Despite the moderately
IF 748 a 10.6 a 19.4 b
high salinity and Na contents of the composts, signs
After the residual period (sunflower) of salinization or sodification of the soil were not
Control 798 a 7.3 a 13.7 a
G 1042 ab 9.6 b 15.4 a
observed.
O 1092 b 13.2 c 16.7 a The use of these composts can contribute to enhanc-
C 1008 ab 9.2 ab 15.9 a ing the level of organic matter in agricultural soils in
IF 833 a 7.8 ab 20.8 b SW Andalusia, which are particularly poor in organic
a Values followed by the same letter in the same column and matter. At the same time, the application of compost
for the same period do not differ significantly (p<0.05). as a deep fertiliser had similar effects on nutritional
 E. Madejón et al. / Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84 (2001) 55–65
status and yield of corn and sugar-beet to those caused
by a complex inorganic fertiliser. Moreover, O and
G composts had a positive residual effect on the sun-
flower crop due to the improvement in soil properties
(organic matter, cation exchange capacity and nutri-
ent content) after 2 years of application. Therefore,
co-composting would seem to be a potentially effec-
tive way of recycling sugar-beet vinasse solving the
problem of disposing of this agroindustrial waste.
Application of moderate applications of compost to
soil, as those described in this paper, could have a
positive effect on plant nutrition and yield, and on soil
chemical fertility without serious risks of salinization
or sodification of coarse textured- or well drained-soils
under irrigation.
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