Effect of organic fertilization on physico-chemical properties of the soils of experimental farm, Abu Naama, Sudan

Abstract EN

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive seasons (2008-2009 and 2009-2010) at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture at Abu Naama, 60 km South of Singah the capital town of Sennar State.

Before cropping, 3 farm locations were selected to represent the experimental sites, 2 of which were treated with poultry waste and FarmYard Manure (FYM) at the rate of 6 tons ha-1, while the third treatent was kept as control.

After harvest, soil samples were randomly collected from surface layers 0-30cm depth from each treatment site, mixed well to form 3 composite samples representing the three treatments.

Bulk Density (BD) and Hydraulic Conductivity (HC) were measured to express soil physical properties along with determinations of soil pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), nitrogen percent, available phosphorus and Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR).

Remarkable decline in values of bulk density occurred due to the application of poultry manure, particularly in the second season being lower than the control and lowest among the three treatments.

Hence, the FarmYard Manure (FYM) stands inferior to poultry manure.

The effect of both manures on hydraulic conductivity (permeability) is quite substantial much less than the control, yet the poultry manure is presiding over the FarmYard Manure.

Invariably, there are very minimum differences in soil EC among all treatments, being nonsaline.

The exception is for the alkaline pH values that are gradually lowering when appling poultry and farmyard manure in the first season, but tend to become very slightly alkaline in the second season indicating acidic residual effect caused by organic acids being leached through time from both organic manures.

Therefore, there are designated non-sodic in due regard to the effect of both manures lowering SAR values.