Soil Physicochemical Properties, Water Use Efficiency and Productivity of Wheat - Maize Yields under Clay Soil Conditions as Affected by Rice Straw and Compost Application

Abstract

Two field experiments were implemented at El-Gemmieza Agric., Res. Station, Agric., Res., Center in El Gharbiah Governorate, Egypt through (2017/2018) seasons to investigate the impact of rice straw and compost application on soil physicochemical properties, water use efficiency and production of both wheat and maize yields. The design of experiment was complete randomized blocks design with three replicates, the experiment comprises the following treatments: T1: (control), T2: 2.50 t ha-1 (RS), T3: 5.00 t ha-1 (RS), T4: 5.00 t ha-1 (C), T5: 2.50 t ha-1 (RS) + 5.00 t ha-1 (C) and T6: 5.00 t ha-1 (RS) + 5.00 t ha-1 (C). Results showed that the applied of all organic treatments improved organic carbon, total N, C/N ratio and pH in soil when in all sample that was taken monthly at (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180,210, 240, 270, 300, 330 and 360 days from incubation rice straw and compost as compared to control treatment. Results show that applied T6 gave the best values of total porosity and hydraulic conductivity but the bulk density decreased than other treatments. The same trend was noticed concerning application T6 treatment which improved crops and water use efficiency of both wheat and maize as well as increased content (%) and uptake (Kg ha-1) of nitrogen, Phosphors, and potassium of grains and straw of both wheat - maize crops as compared to other treatments. It seems that the characteristics parameters of soil and plants has followed the sequence T6> T5 > T4> T3 > T2> T1.