Jatropha seed cake and organic waste compost: the potential for improvement of soil fertility

Modern agriculture faces to new challenges and problems. Application of organic waste compost (C_p) and Jatropha seed cake (JSC) represents new possibilities to improve soil organic matter (SOM) and thus reduce the risk of soil degradation. Our paper presents results of laboratory experiment. Based on these results, we conclude that the application of organic substances has positive effect on soil fertility but the impact of individual substances is different. JSC has higher influence on soil properties (microbial activity and plant production) in the short term. Conversely, C_p affects soil properties in the long term. These properties are due to their chemical composition.