Subsoiling tillage and compost applications in relation to saline soil properties and its productivity of wheat

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the individual and combined effect of both subsoiling tillage and compost on chemical properties of saline soil and its productivity. A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2018/2019 at El-Hamoul area, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. This experiment included 6 treatments with three replicates (18 plots) where the main factor was tillage (subsoiling tillage, ST; non-subsoiling tillage, NT) and the compost (sulphur compost, SC; non-sulphur compost, NSC) applied at 24.0 Mg ha-1 represented the second factor. All plots were sowed by wheat plant (Triticum aestivum L. Misr 2). After harvesting, straw and grains were weighted and soil samples of each plot were taken at depths of 0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60 and 60-90 cm to determinate some chemical properties (pH, EC, ESP and OM) and the available macronutrients (N, P, K and S) in soil. Compost application without and with subsoiling tillage significantly decreased the soil pH, ESP, EC and increased OM and soil available macronutrients (N, P, K and S). Subsoiling tillage resulted in a significant decrease of soil ESP, EC, OM and the soil available N, P, K and S, while there was slightly increasing in soil pH. Application of compost either without or with ST significantly increased both straw and grains yields of wheat plant compared with control. Treated saline soil with compost and ST had a high positive impact on soil chemical properties and its productivity of wheat plant, where the preference was for ST and SC treatments.