There is a great potential for reducing the municipal and industrial wastes through composting. Many phytotoxins come from agricultural use of pesticides and industrial solvents. How the effect of these phytotoxins can be studied using the plants as bio-indicators to access the phytotoxicity level of these composts? Please, suggest some related articles and research proposals.
Usually this is done by germination tests, that are done on seeds easily permeable like cress or cucumber. Care must beapplied because a good germination does not grant the absence of toxicity and usually other tests like eH, smell, C/N, soluble heavy metalsand COD are suggested. http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/grantspgm/projects/proj12/comm/composting/is_it_done_yet.pdf. For original lab germination I suggest Franco Zucconi and Lepidium, as in http://sodbib.udl.es/gtb/sod/usu/$UDLG/repositorio/20340400_14704405.pdf
Germination test are usually sufficient and these are two papers that could help you quantify the phytotoxic effects on germination and the seedlings. I suggest that you also grow the plants for a longer period as the initial effects, especially those effects on seedling vigour and early growth could be overcome when the plant/seedling becomes older.
Thanks. Muller, please type the titles of those research articles. I am unable to download the attached files.
Miaomiao et al. 2009_Effect of composting process on phytotoxicity and speciation of copper, zinc and lead in sewage sludge and swine manure. available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956053X08002377
Jakubus M. PHYTOTOXICITY AND SPECIATION OF COPPER AND NICKEL IN COMPOSTED SEWAGE SLUDGE
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