Document Type : Original Research Articles
Authors
1
Department of Soils and Water Science, Faculty of Agriculture, New Valley University
2
Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, New Valley University, Egypt
3
Department of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt
4
Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt
5
Department of Soils and Water Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University
Abstract
This study investigated the physicochemical properties such as pH, EC, organic matter content, and nutrient concentrations of certain soils and assessed the quality of produced compost (produced from mixture of date palm wastes and animal manure) in comparison with various commercial compost types. The analyzed soils were found to be slightly alkaline, low in organic matter, and exhibited minor variations in NPK contents. However, significant differences were noted in total-P and soluble K levels, especially in sample S8. Texturally, the soils ranged from sandy to sandy clay loam. A comparative assessment of compost generated in this study with commercial compost variants revealed considerable disparities in physicochemical attributes such as pH, EC, organic matter content, nutrient concentrations, impurities, and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The compost produced in our research exhibited remarkable properties, notably having a high nutrient content, low EC, and the least impurities. When juxtaposed with commercial versions, our compost demonstrated superior quality, attributed to optimal moisture, thorough mixing, and ideal temperatures during composting, resulting in the rapid production of premium-grade compost. This research emphasizes the importance of selecting composts based on specific attributes to maximize their benefits as soil amendments. The isolated bacillus Sp. showed a substantial improvement of Sudanese grass growth and enhanced the chemical characteristics of soils. It’s worth noting that combined application of compost and bacillus inoculum was more effective compared to their sole applications.
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