Soil & Water Res., 2025, 20(2):71-83 | DOI: 10.17221/148/2024-SWR

Effect of surface-applied compost on soil propertiesOriginal Paper

Markéta Miháliková ORCID...1*, Kamila Bá»ková ORCID...1, Petr Dvořák ORCID...2, Recep Serdar Kara ORCID...1, Cansu Almaz ORCID...1, Martin Král ORCID...2, Barbora Badalíková ORCID...3, Květuąe Hejátková4, Vladimír Maąán ORCID...5, Patrik Burg ORCID...5, Petr Plíva ORCID...6
1 Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Department of Agrotechnics, Agriculture Research, Ltd., Troubsko, Czech Republic
4 ZERA – Agricultural and Environmental Regional Agency, r. a., Náměą» nad Oslavou, Czech Republic
5 Department of Horticultural Machinery, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic
6 Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic

The positive influence of surface compost application without incorporation on soil physical properties is known but remains underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of surface-applied stable and mature compost on basic soil physical and chemical properties, including saturated hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability, and penetration resistance. Conducted as a semi-operational field experiment in two Czech agricultural sites (A: Blatnice at Jaroměřice and B: Jevíčko; Cambisols with loam and silty clay loam textures, respectively), the plots were treated with compost (SCA) at rates of 4 × 30 t/ha (A) and 1 × 200 t/ha (B) or left untreated as controls (CON). The crops were wheat (A), maize (A, B) and intercrops. Surface compost application began in 2022, and soil sampling and field measurements were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. Results showed significant positive changes (P < 0.05 or lower) in SCA plots compared to CON. Soil organic matter content increased by 27.8% at locality A and by 58.1% at locality B, while saturated water content increased by 5.3% (A) and 11.0% (B) in the latter season. Similarly, pH and electrical conductivity showed increases. Water-stable aggregate ratios increased by 6% to 30% at both localities. Dry bulk density decreased by 10.5% (A) and 15.7% (B). Improvements in saturated hydraulic conductivity (by 28.6%) and penetration resistance were observed only at locality B. These findings show the potential of surface-applied stable and mature compost to enhance soil properties effectively.

Keywords: compost maturity; compost stability; conservation agriculture; erosion control; water stable aggregates

Received: December 5, 2024; Revised: December 12, 2024; Accepted: December 13, 2024; Prepublished online: January 22, 2025; Published: April 10, 2025  Show citation

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Miháliková M, Bá»ková K, Dvořák P, Kara RS, Almaz C, Král M, et al.. Effect of surface-applied compost on soil properties. Soil & Water Res. 2025;20(2):71-83. doi: 10.17221/148/2024-SWR.
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