Assessment of the possibility of using solid waste compost for growing medicinal plants
T.S. Droganova, L.V. Polikarpova, M.A. Sevostyanov, A.А. Mazurkevich
Section: Agroecology
The production of artificial soils – products of solid-phase fermentation of municipal solid waste – is one of the main areas of processing waste from megacities containing organic substances and is a “green” alternative to their incineration or burial. The possibility of using products of solid-phase fermentation of waste for growing medicinal plants was studied using the examples of mountain savory (Satureja montana L.), common basil (Ocimum basilikum L.), marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.). It was revealed that the optimal germination of plants occurs on
the artificial soils “Klasmann Substrates Select” and “Grunt ECO” and it is comparable to the control soil of field crop rotation.The changes in the biochemical parameters of plants (enzyme activity, chlorophyll content) grown on soils under normal conditions, under the influence of heavy metals and at low temperatures are shown. High chlorophyll content was noted in all studied plants, however, in mountain savory grown on the “Veltorf” substrate, destructive phenomena were revealed, expressed in a decrease in the content of chlorophyll a with a simultaneous increase in the content of chlorophyll b. The activity of catalase and acid phosphatase enzymes in the studied plants is within normal limits. The effect of
unfavorable factors – low temperature and heavy metals – leads to an increase in enzyme activity, which is a sign of the formation of adaptation. When assessing the germination of plants of various species and their biochemical parameters, it was found that the domestic soil of the Grunt ECO company is optimal for growing medicinal plants and can be used for medicinal plant growing purposes.