Effect of organic amendments on soil chemical properties and potassium availability to sorghum plants grown on a calcareous sandy soil [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of a mineral fertilizer (K2SO4) and some organic amendments (filter mud cake, sheep manure and poultry manure) on potassium (K) forms and availability to sorghum plants (Sorghum bicolor) grown on a calcareous sandy soil. Soil chemical properties (pH, salinity and organic matter) were also investigated. The treatments were added at levels of 0, 25, 50 and 100 kg/fed., on the K-equivalent basis. The results showed that organic amendments incorporated into the calcareous sandy soil affected the forms of soil K and K availability to sorghum plants. Water-soluble K, NH40 Ac-extractable K, and HN03 - extractable K significantly increased with increasing the application level of K2SO4 or organic amendments. The highest increases in soil extractable K content and potassium uptake by sorghum plants were found with sheep manure application than for other treatments. Moreover, the application of both sheep manure and poultry manure showed a significant decrease in the soil pH and significant increases in the salinity and the organic matter content of the soil, especially with increasing the addition level. Therefore, recycling of organic amendments may be suitable for improving the soil chemical properties and potassium status of light textured soils.

Summary in Arabic.

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