Most farming communities are reluctant to use municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) although the use of agriculture-based waste compost (AWC) is already highly popularized. The objective of this study was to comparatively assess MSWC and AWC considering their effects on soil acidity, salinity, fertility, and short-term crop yield response in a tropical Ultisol in Sri Lanka. Seven MSWC samples (samples named as S1 – S7) and two AWC samples (samples named as S8, S9) were applied in the field at 10 and 20 Mg ha⁻¹ rates in two consecutive years with bush bean and maize in the first year, and only bush bean in the second year. The soil was initially acidic (pH: 5.3–5.7) and non-saline (Electrical conductivity, EC_1:5 < 0.05 dS m⁻¹). The pH significantly increased with the application of MSWC (6.4–7.6), but not with AWC (5.1–5.7). The application of MSWC increased the EC_1:5 more significantly compared with AWC. Yields of both crops were > 35% lower compared with the expected average yield in all the treatments in the first year of cultivation. The yields of bush bean cultivation in the second year showed increases, however, slightly lower than the expected average yield. Yields were higher when the soils were comparatively higher in phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). Application of AWC did not produce high yields compared with MSWC. Results revealed that MSWC was comparable or better than AWC considering the crop yield response. However, the use of MSWC can be considered better suited for soils with more acidic conditions. The application of AWC is suitable, while MSWC is not, for soils with already high pH and saline conditions or when the expected crop prefers acidic soil reaction. Further experiments are required on effects of continuous applications on soils and methodologies for lowering the salinity levels of MSWC.

尽管已经高度普及了以农业为基础的垃圾堆肥（AWC）的使用，但大多数农业社区都不愿使用城市固体垃圾堆肥（MSWC）。这项研究的目的是比较评估MSWC和AWC在斯里兰卡热带Ultisol中对土壤酸度，盐度，肥力和短期作物产量响应的影响。连续两年分别以10和20 Mg ha ^-1的比例在田间施用了七个MSWC样品（名为S1-S7的样品）和两个AWC样品（名为S8，S9的样品），第一年使用小菜豆和玉米，而第二年只有布什豆。最初，土壤是酸性的（pH：5.3–5.7）和非盐渍的（电导率，EC _1：5  <0.05 dS m ^-1）。使用MSWC（6.4–7.6）时，pH值显着增加，而使用AWC（5.1–5.7）时，pH值却没有增加。MSWC的应用增加了EC _1：5与AWC相比更为重要。在种植的第一年，所有处理的两种作物的产量均比预期的平均产量低35％以上。第二年种植矮生豆的单产有所增加，但略低于预期的平均单产。当土壤中磷（P）和钾（K）相对较高时，产量较高。与MSWC相比，使用AWC不能产生高产量。结果表明，考虑到农作物的产量响应，MSWC可以媲美或优于AWC。但是，可以认为MSWC的使用更适合酸性条件更强的土壤。对于已经具有较高pH值和盐分条件的土壤，或者当预期的作物更喜欢酸性土壤反应时，AWC则适用，而MSWC则不适用。