Influence of liquid manure and NPK on selected sorption properties of soil

Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of long-term fertilization with liquid manure applied annually and biennially and with mineral fertilizers on selected sorption properties of soil, i.e. the content of exchangeable magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and as well as the value of hydrolytic acidity, sorption capacity and base cation saturation ratio. It was found that fertilization with liquid manure, in contrast to NPK application (N as NH4NO3, P as triple super phosphate, K as KCl), led to a significant rise in the content of exchangeable magnesium in soil, whereas application of liquid manure or mineral fertilizers contributed to a significant increase in the potassium content in soil. Application of liquid manure did not cause significant changes in the value of hydrolytic acidity between the lowest and the highest dose used, while mineral fertilization contributed to an increase in the value of hydrolytic acidity. Application of liquid manure reduced the value of hydrolytic acidity as deep as the third layer of the soil profile. Fertilization with liquid manure and mineral fertilizers did not affect the content of exchangeable calcium in the whole soil profile, although the calcium content in the soil profile increased to the 51-75 cm layer. Application of liquid manure and NPK did not alter significantly the content of exchangeable sodium in soil. Upon application of both liquid manure and NPK, no significant changes were observed in the total base exchangeable cations in soil (S) or in the sorption complex saturation (V). However, S and V significantly increased along the depth of sampling. It was found that fertilization with both liquid manure and mineral fertilizers did not induce substantial changes in the soil sorption capacity, although there was an increase in the total sorption capacity in two layers (51-75 cm and 76-100 cm) of the soil profile.