Evaluatoin of different compost sources to improve some soil properties under wheat and maize crops rotation [electronic resources].

Includes references.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of nine compost types on soil properties and their positive effect on plant growth during two successive seasons. The organic treatments were nine types; poultry manure, sawdust, farmyard manure, town refuse, sewage sludge , cottons stalks , sawdust activated by organic compost, treated sawdust by NaOH, and treated of cotton stalks by NaOH. The experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of Sakha Agric. Res. Station, Kafr EL-sheikh governorate, Egypt. longitude 30°56' E and latitude 31° 5 N., Wheat, variety (Sakha 94) was planted on November (2011) and followed by maize, variety (Giza 352) cultivated on May (2012) in the same experimental area. The experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. 50% of the recommended nitrogen was applied to each treatment. The obtained results application due to composts could be summarized as follows: 1-Soil organic matter content and ECe values were increased, while pH valuesshowed slight decrease. 2-In the first, season the maximum wheat grain and straw yields (3.09 (Mg/fed and 5.98 Mg/fed., respectively) were obtained when soil was mixed with farmyard manure and sawdust activated by compost combined with urea at rate of 50% of recommended dose. The highest 100 grain weight (4.46gm) was obtained with using composted farmyard manure combined with urea at rate of 50% recommended dose . The corresponding values in the second season under maize crop were 4.21 Mg/fed, 6.63Mg/fed and 32.58 gm for composted sawdust activated by organic compost, sewage sludge compost and farmyard manure combined with urea, respectively. 3- Application of different composted materials were more effective in increasing available N, P and K in soil in the 1st and 2nd seasons. 4- The obtained results indicated a significant increase in NPK content of wheat and maize plants, with composts application.

Summary in Arabic.

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