Samaneh Aryabod; Azam Razavi Nasab; Farhad Nadaf Feyzabadi
Abstract
Introduction The use of organic fertilizers in sustainable agriculture, in addition to increasing the support and activity of beneficial soil microorganisms in order to provide plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and soluble potassium and also improves plant growth and yield are so necessary. ...
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Introduction The use of organic fertilizers in sustainable agriculture, in addition to increasing the support and activity of beneficial soil microorganisms in order to provide plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and soluble potassium and also improves plant growth and yield are so necessary. In pistachio growing areas due to soil constraints such as salinity and sodium content of the soil, lack of proper structure in most areas, poor soil texture and long irrigation cycle, the use of auxiliary substances such as humic acid, can improve the situation and lead to increase nutrient uptake and increase growth and yield and sustainable production.Materials and Methods This experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in MahVelat. The main plot consisted of four types of humic acid (ordinary solid humic acid, Ferti Plus solid humic acid, Iranian liquid humic acid (all three products of Shimi Gol Feyz Khorasan Company) and American Liquid Humic Acid (HUMAX) and subplot including different application levels (0, first level for solid fertilizers 600 kg and liquid fertilizers 40 liters per hectare and second level for solid fertilizers 800 kg and liquid fertilizers 60 liters per hectare). The number of trees tested was 36 trees of 10-year-old almond cultivar. Solid fertilizer was applied once (March 2016) and liquid fertilizer twice (March 2016 and May 2017). Irrigation was drip (Babler) and studies were considered for one year. In August 2017, by random sampling of the leaves of each tree, the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in the plant leaves and also by sampling the soil of the foot of each tree, some soil chemical properties, including pH, Organic carbon content, available nitrogen concentration and available phosphorus concentration in soil, potassium, calcium and magnesium in soil solution extract were measured. In September 2017, yield components (weight of 100 grains, ounce and emptiness percent) of each tree were measured by weight. The results were statistically analyzed using SAS software and the mean of the experimental data were compared with each other by Duncan's multiple range tests at 5% probability level.Results and Discussion The amount of organic carbon (71.42%), nitrogen (72.22%), and soil potassium (43.01%) with all types of humic acids showed a significant increase compared to the control, but no significant difference was observed between the consumed humic acids. The highest amount of available phosphorus (78/30%) in soil, calcium (54/90%) and magnesium (56.05%) was obtained from liquid ShimiGol and Humax. With increasing the amount of humic acid, electrical conductivity (13.71%) decreased but organic carbon (82.88%), nitrogen (55%), phosphorus (75.93%), potassium (23.97%), calcium (46.35%) and magnesium (58.82%) showed a significant increase and the highest amount of these properties was obtained in the highest amount of humic acid consumption. The interaction of humic acid type and its amount on the amount of organic carbon, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in the soil was significant and the highest amount of calcium (57.03%) was obtained from the application of 60 liters per hectare of Humax. The highest leaf nitrogen concentrations were obtained from the application of liquid Humax (MAX:42.23%), liquid of Shimi Gol, solid Ferti Plus and ordinary solid ShimiGol, respectively. The highest concentrations of phosphorus (17.65%) and magnesium (16.96%) were obtained from Humax and the highest concentrations of calcium were obtained from three solid humic acids, Ferti Plus, liquid of ShimiGol and liquid of Humax with a significant difference with ordinary solid. The type of humic acid consumed was not significant on any of the yield components (weight of 100 grains (21.69%), ounces (27.45%) and emptiness percent (25.38%)). The amount of humic acid consumed was significant on all measured characteristics. So that the best yield components and the highest element concentration were obtained from the highest amount of humic acid consumption.Humic acid has direct and indirect effects on plants. Indirect effect is usually in the form of changes in environmental conditions such as modification of soil physical condition, enzymatic and hormonal effects and soil pH, improvement of soil structure, aeration, drainage, water holding capacity, soil temperature and direct effects includes increasing biomass and microbial population, antiviral activity and growth modulation, increasing plant resistance to salinity and drought stress. Humic acid increases nutrient uptake, increases germination and root growth, and improves yield quantitatively and qualitatively. Humic substances also dissolve calcium carbonate in the soil and replace calcium with sodium by activating sulfur oxidizing bacteria, as well as reduction of soil pH to improve nutrient uptake. Humic acid can directly release various elements from minerals, absorb them and deliver them to the roots at the right time. Because humic acid is a valuable source of macro and micro nutrients, it provides a good nutritional balance for the plant and leads to greater absorption of nutrients and specific functional responses in the plant.Conclusion Application of humic acids in liquid or solid form, domestically or externally produced, can increase the supply of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, as well as the content of organic carbon in the soil and reduce pH, increase the concentration of elements in leaves and improve yield components. Of course, it should be noted that among the internal humic acids, the solid Ferty Plus, Shimi Gol were as well as Humax liquid. Relying on internal knowledge can prevent unnecessary outflow of currency.
Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Azam Razavi Nasab; Amir Fotovat; alireza astaraie; ahmad tajabadipour
Abstract
Introduction Pistachio is one of the most economical cash crops in Iran that is located in arid and semi-arid regions with low soil organic matter and very harmful ions. The enhancement of the organic matter in sufficient quantity and quality plays an important role in agricultural production and soil ...
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Introduction Pistachio is one of the most economical cash crops in Iran that is located in arid and semi-arid regions with low soil organic matter and very harmful ions. The enhancement of the organic matter in sufficient quantity and quality plays an important role in agricultural production and soil sustainable management. The application of organic matter promotes physical, chemical, and microbial soil conditions, such as soil aggregate stability, water holding capacity, productivity, and fertility which are essential, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) and cow manure are two cheap, available, and effective organic materials that can be used in pistachio orchards to improve soil condition and better root growth and more effective nutrient uptake. Gypsum is a chemical material that can replace Ca with Na, especially in saline and sodic soil and cause Na leaching from the soil profile. Sulfur oxidation and gypsum produce acid in the soil and lead to the reduction in pH and the amending of the soil condition. The present study investigated the effects of two organic matters (MSWC and cow manure), two chemical matters (gypsum and sulfur) on some nutrient concentrations in different soil depths (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm depths) and the leaf of pistachio seedlings at the field condition. Materials and Methods A field experiment in a randomized complete block design (split-plot) with three replications was conducted for two years in Izadyaran Company (30 km south of Sirjan, Kerman Province, Iran with hot and dry climates). Treatments were two organic wastes (MSWC and cow manure, 15 Mg ha-1 as the major factor, two chemical amendments (gypsum and sulfur, 10 Mg ha-1) as subplot factor, and soil depths (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) as the sub-subplot. The organic and chemical matter were poured into the pit of planting and mixed well with soil and a one-year-pistachio seedling was planted (February 2012). In the middle of the summer (August 2013) and at the end of winter (February 2014), plant leaves and soil sampling were done respectively and macro elements’ (Na, K, Ca, Mg, N, and P) concentrations were measured and then statically analyzed with SAS software. Results and Discussion MSWC and sulfurs cause the increase of available K in 40-60 cm depth, because of more mobility of K in comparison to other ions. MSW contains K and sulfur through the reduction in pH that leads to MSW decomposing and increases the available K. Sulfur application rises Ca of soil solution more than gypsum because of common ion effect. MSWC and gypsum also enhanced Mg of the soil solution in 20-40 cm depth. Not only MSWC contained Mg but also SO42- solved some parts of solid MgCO3 and increased Mg in soil solution. On the other hand, mineralization of cow manure increased the available P in 20-40 cm depth. None of the treatments were significant on the concentration of soil Na and N. Probably Na was leaching in primary irrigation and mineralized N was quickly absorbed by the plant. Results of this experiment showed that treatments were not significant on the concentration of Na, K, and Mg of pistachio leaves. The application of cow manure increased Ca and P, and cow manure and sulfur increased the N concentration of leaves. The enhanced concentration of elements may be attributed to the increased nutrient levels in cow manure. Sulfur because of sulfuric acid production in soil solution, declined soil pH and led to more nutrient uptake. This phenomenon continuously provides available nutrients in usable form to the plants. These results may be illustrated by the postulated slow release and contiguous storage of nutrients from organic wastes, such as MSWC and cow manure that increased soil nutrient content after a year. Gypsum, with replacing Na with Ca, decreased harmful ions, such as Na and both gypsum and sulfur and because of sulfuric acid production in soil solution, declined soil pH and then led to soil reclamation and more nutrient uptake. The interaction effect of organic and chemical matters’ treatments ,in the same way, can increase some essential nutrients in the soil and plant significantly because of the synergic effect of the organic and chemical soil reclamation. Conclusion Results of this study illustrated that it is possible to improve the fertility of saline-sodic soils and plant nutrition with cheap and available organic and chemical materials, such as cow manure and MSWC, gypsum, and sulfur. However, due to the difference in mobility of ions, their concentrations vary in different depths, but with the proper planning, the essential elements can be reached to plants at the right time, especially for a strategic plant like pistachio.
A. Razavi Nasab; A. Fotovat; A.R. Astaraie; A. Tajabadipour