Multidisciplinary approach to validate compost use in vegetable crop systems of Campania Region (Italy): influence of compost rates on soil biological activity and heavy metal content

Soil respiration, hydrolase and phosphatase activities were measured in order to evaluate the effect of different compost rate amendments on microbiological activity of two experimental agricultural soils. Variations in total and available heavy metal concentrations were also assessed. After a single compost application, soil respiration and hydrolase activity showed higher values in amended soils than in control soils. Available Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn soil concentrations increased after compost amendment.