Macadamia Husk Compost Improved Physical and Chemical Properties of a Sandy Loam Soil

Dembe Maselesele, John B.O. Ogola and Romeo N. Murovhi
Additional contact information
Dembe Maselesele: Department of Crop Science, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
John B.O. Ogola: Department of Crop Science, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
Romeo N. Murovhi: Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Tropical and Sub-Tropical Crops, P.O. Box 247, Levubu 0929, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: Poor soil fertility caused mainly by low and declining soil organic carbon is one of the major constraints limiting crop productivity in tropical and subtropical regions of South Africa. We evaluated the effect of macadamia husk compost (MHC) on selected chemical and physical properties of a sandy loam soil in NE South Africa in two successive seasons. The treatments, laid out in randomised, complete block design and replicated four times, were: (i) zero control, (ii) inorganic fertilizer (100:60:60 NPK Kg ha −1 ), (iii) MHC at 15 t ha −1 , and (iv) MHC at 30 t ha −1 . Soil bulk density; water holding capacity; soil pH; electrical conductivity (EC); organic carbon; total N; and available P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, and Cu were determined at 0–15 cm soil depth. Macadamia husk compost application decreased bulk density and increased water holding capacity. MHC and inorganic fertilizer increased soil pH, organic carbon, total N, C:N ratio, available P, exchangeable cations, and micronutrients but the effect was more pronounced under MHC treatments in both seasons. The positive effect of MHC on soil physicochemical properties was associated with an increase in soil organic carbon due to MHC application; hence, MHC may offer a sustainable option of increasing soil productivity, particularly in areas characterised by low SOC.

Keywords: C:N ratio; exchangeable cations; macadamia husk compost; organic matter; soil fertility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/6997/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/6997/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:6997-:d:579422

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().