Effects of Organic Amendments on Some Properties of Xerochrept Soil and Mineral Nutrition of Triticale

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of vermicompost and farmyard manure applications on the growth of triticale plants and on some soil properties of the field. Farmyard manure (FYM) and vermicompost (VC) were applied in three doses: as 0%, 2% and 4%. Some physical and chemical properties of soil samples taken from the 0-20 cm depth were analyzed. The plant growth parameters were measured from harvested plants. Generally, yield criteria improved statistically significantly by increasing manure doses. The lowest values of PNS, PL, SNS, SL, GNS, TGW and GY were 87.00, 64.51 cm, 15.00,10.29 cm, 26.50, 25.70 g and 170.20 kg da-1 from the control, while the highest mean values were obtained from the 2% doses of organic amendments, respectively. These increases were found statistically significant for all the investigated yield criteria. Increasing organic material doses increased the SOM content relative to the control. The SOM mean values were 0.63%, 1.06% and 1.76% in control soil and in soil with the 2nd dose of organic soil amendments. The means of FC, AW and AS slightly increased by increasing doses of organic soil conditioners. The lowest FC, AW and AS means were obtained as 25.77%, 10.48% and 51.79% in the control, while the highest ones, at 26.94%, 10.79% and 57.79%, FC, AW and A, respectively, were in soil with the 2nd dose of organic soil conditioners respectively. In contrast, BD decreased from 1.447 g cm-3 to 1.338 g cm-3 and 1.352 g cm-3 by increasing organic material doses. According to analyses of plant nutrients, organic soil conditioners had positive effects on the nutrient content of triticale compared to control, except Na and Cu. The means of Ca, K, Fe, Zn and Cu obtained in FYM applications were higher than those obtained in VC applications. Mean values of Ca, K, Fe, Zn and Cu were obtained as 4167 mg kg-1, 5277 mg kg-1, 396 mg kg-1, 6.52 mg kg-1 and 3.71 mg kg-1 in FYM applications while these means were 3662 mg kg-1, 5213 mg kg-1, 317 mg kg-1, 6.08 mg kg-1 and 3.56 mg kg-1 in VC applications, respectively.