Enhancement of Soil Characteristics With Compost To Maximize Parsley Yield In Sandy Soils

Growing Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum [Mill.]) as a short-duration crop on sandy soil is becoming more and more popular among small producers in the warm and humid climate of north Florida. The low fertility sandy soils in Florida and the ensuing crop production can both benefit from the application of compost to agricultural land, which also offers a means of recycling biosolids and municipal solid waste (MSW). The effects of applying compost (75% MSW:25% biosolids) versus fertilizer, fertilizer + compost (50:50), and control treatments were assessed in a field study using a randomized complete block design with four replications. The variables included: (a) parsley fresh weight (FW); (b) soil and plant tissue nutrient concentrations; and (c) soil bulk density and moisture retention in the winter and spring.