Evaluation of Composted Organic Wastes and Farmyard Manure for Improving Fertility of Poor Sandy Soils in Arid Regions

Houda Oueriemmi, Petra Susan Kidd, Carmen Trasar-Cepeda, Beatriz Rodríguez-Garrido, Rahma Inès Zoghlami, Kaouther Ardhaoui, Ángeles Prieto-Fernández and Mohamed Moussa
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Houda Oueriemmi: Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques, University of Gabes, 6072 Gabes, Tunisia
Petra Susan Kidd: Department of Soil Biochemistry, IIAG-CSIC, Av. de Vigo s/n, Campus Vida, E-15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Carmen Trasar-Cepeda: Department of Soil Biochemistry, IIAG-CSIC, Av. de Vigo s/n, Campus Vida, E-15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Beatriz Rodríguez-Garrido: Department of Soil Biochemistry, IIAG-CSIC, Av. de Vigo s/n, Campus Vida, E-15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Rahma Inès Zoghlami: Laboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification (LR16IRA01), Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, 4119 Medenine, Tunisia
Kaouther Ardhaoui: Higher Institute of Applied Biology, University of Gabes, 4119 Medenine, Tunisia
Ángeles Prieto-Fernández: Department of Soil Biochemistry, IIAG-CSIC, Av. de Vigo s/n, Campus Vida, E-15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Mohamed Moussa: Laboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification (LR16IRA01), Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, 4119 Medenine, Tunisia

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Farmyard manure, an amendment traditionally used for improving the fertility of sandy soils in arid climates, is becoming scarce and expensive. Its shortage makes it necessary to evaluate, at field scale, the suitability and medium-term performance of other cheap, highly available substitutes. A field trial was established to analyze the effects of a single application of three organic residues on barley yield and nutrient uptake and selected soil properties after two consecutive harvests. Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), sewage sludge compost (SSC) and farmyard manure (FYM) were tested at rates of 0, 20, 40 and 60 t ha −1 . Adding all three organic amendments increased organic matter, cation exchange capacity and available P, Ca, Mg and K in the soil, the grain yield (up to 51%), and the barley plants’ nutrient contents. After the second harvest, a positive residual effect of the amendment was observed in plant yield (up to 77%) and nutrient contents. MSWC and SSC induced slight increases on the extractable fractions (BCR protocol) of Co, Cu and Ni, relative to the unamended soil. The results demonstrate the positive immediate and residual effect of the amendments evaluated as fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

Keywords: organic amendments; fertility; trace elements; plant nutrients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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