Journal article
Applying spent coffee grounds directly to urban agriculture soils greatly reduces plant growth
SJ Hardgrove, SJ Livesley
Urban Forestry and Urban Greening | ELSEVIER GMBH | Published : 2016
Abstract
There are frequent anecdotal recommendations for the use of locally produced spent coffee grounds in urban agriculture and gardens, either through direct soil application or after composting with other urban organic wastes. This study investigates the scientific basis for direct application of spent coffee grounds (SCG) and the influence of different: (i) plant pH and nitrogen preferences, (ii) soil types, and (iii) application rates. We specifically consider impacts upon plant growth, soil hydrology and nitrogen transformation processes. We grew five horticultural plants (broccoli, leek, radish, viola and sunflower) in sandy, sandy clay loam and loam soils, with and without SCG and fertiliz..
View full abstractGrants
Funding Acknowledgements
We would like to thank several staff at the Burnley campus - Nicholas Osborne and Sascha Andrusiak in the nursery, Dr Peter May for his sage advice, Dr Claire Farrell for discussion about statistics and Prof. Stefan Arndt for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Sarah would like to thank volunteers for their assistance in the glasshouse and the field - in particular Jesse Kurylo and Peter Somerville. Also, the cafe owners and baristas that helped supply spent coffee grounds, in particular Roma cafe in Botannica, Richmond. This research was made possible through the financial support of the Frank Keenan Trust Fund.