Soil properties and grape yield of vineyard as affected by sawdust addition in a semi-arid region

Abstract

Due to its high organic matter content, sawdust can be used for soil amendment. This study investigated the effect of sawdust obtained from a furniture industry (Yildiz Integre Akhisar flakeboard) on grape yield and loam texture soil (Typic Xerofluvent) properties of a vineyard located in Saruhanlı District, Manisa, Turkey. In the trial, three groups with dry sawdust (10 t ha-1, 20 t ha-1; 30 t ha-1) was added to plots of vineyard while 0 t ha-1 or without sawdust addition was set up as a control group. All the 4 treatments were replicated three times (4×3). Sawdust addition resulted in significant increase (p <0.05) of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, electrical conductivity (EC), available Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, P, K, and Mn contents, moisture, saturation percentage, field capacity, wilting point, available water and aggregation percentage values compared with control group. Also, the soil pH, bulk density, and dispersion percentage significantly decreased with sawdust addition. However, there was no significant change in lime, available Cu contents, structure stability index, aggregate stability of the soil with sawdust addition. Compared with control group, addition of 20 t ha-1 and 30 t ha-1 of dry sawdust significantly increased the grape yield of the vineyard. The highest yield of 4.23 t ha-1 was recorded with 30 t ha-1 sawdust addition. Sawdust can be used as a soil amendment given its positive effects on some soil properties and grape yield of the vineyard. It is suggested that nitrogen immobilization from the soil by microorganisms due to sawdust’s high C/N ratio is a key consideration for its future use.