Soil chemical and microbial parameters are commonly used as soil quality indicators to evaluate sustainable land management in agroecosystems. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of organic and conventional management strategies on biological, chemical and yield parameters in vineyards (Vitis vinifera cv. Sultani seedless). Organic plots received a mixture of barley, vetch and broad bean (25+35+75 kg seed ha^− 1) as green manure, and farmyard manure (15 t ha^− 1) every year. Inorganic fertilizers (NPK) and pesticides were used in the conventional managed vineyards. Conventional and mulch tillage methods were used in conventional and organic plots, respectively. Microbiological and chemical soil properties were determined in the soil samples which were taken four times in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. In addition, the yield and some quality parameters of vineyards were also determined. Soil microbial biomass, and dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly higher in organic management than in conventional management. Higher C_mic/C_org and lower qCO₂ values were found with the organic management. The response of the chemical indicators (C_org, N_t and available nutrient content) of the soils to different management systems appeared after a longer time than with the biological indicators. In the transition zone between continental and Mediterranean climates of West Turkey, soil quality of organically managed vineyards improved after 2 years of the transition period prescribed for organic certification. However, soil quality improvements in organic plots did not result in higher yield.

Bio-fertilizers are defined as preparations containing living cells or latent cells of efficient strains of microorganisms that help crop plants’ uptake of nutrients by their interactions in the rhizosphere when applied through seed or soil. They accelerate certain microbial processes in the soil which augment the extent of availability of nutrients in a form easily assimilated by plants. The use of bio-fertilizers is one of the important components of integrated nutrient management, as they are cost effective and renewable source of plant nutrients to supplement the chemical fertilizers for sustainable agriculture.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different rates of N, Mg and Fe applications on the mineral content of parsley leaves. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse according to the randomized plot design with three replications. Seven N, Mg and Fe dose treatments were designed as 130, 160, 190, 220, 250, 280 and 310 kg per ha N as ammonium nitrate (33% N), 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 and 280 kg per ha Mg as magnesium sulphate (16% MgO) and 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48 and 56 Fe kg per ha as ferrous sulphate (20% Fe). The treatments did not significantly affect phosphorus concentrations in parsley leaves. The nitrogen uptake of the plant increased in all three element applications and the highest N, K and Ca values were determined in nitrogen fertilizer applications. The nitrate amount in the leaves also increased depending on the increasing N rates. The results indicate that the most effective fertilizer in the nutrition of parsley is nitrogen fertilizers and nitrogen doses up to 310 kg per ha did not increase the nitrate amount in parsley above the permissible level.

The aim of this study is to investigate the stabilization of tannery sludge compost mixed with cow manure at the different ratios by employing an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida and bioaccumulation of chromium in tannery sludge by earthworms. Organic cow manure (M) and sludge compost (S) were mixed in certain proportions, moistened and Eisenia foetida worms were added. Mixing ratios were realized as 100% M (M100S0), 70% M + 30% S (M70S30), 50% M + 50% S (M50S50) and 30% M + 70% S (M30S70). The experiment was carried out at a constant temperature of 24 oC and in a dark environment according to a randomized plot design with three replicates. The experiment ended after 120 days and the following parameters were evaluated in vermicomposts: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total organic carbon (TOC), C:N ratio, and total macro and micro elements. In addition, it was determined total chromium, Cr (VI) in vermicomposts and total Cr in E. foetida body. The results for TOC, C:N ratio and total Cr showed decreases in their values at the end of the vermicomposting process, whereas values for pH, EC, TON, Ca and Mg increase, indicating that the vermicomposting reached the maturity level. All values of Cr (VI) of vermicomposts were below the detectable level. During the vermicomposting process, the reduction rates of the total Cr amounts were 96% (M70S30), 96% (M50S50) and 30% (M30S70), respectively. While the highest total Cr amount in the earthworm body was determined in M30S70 treatment, the amount of this element in the earthworm body decreased due to the decreasing doses of tannery sludge compost. These results show that E. foetida can bioacumulate the chromium in tannery sludge compost. As a result, it was determined that vermicomposting can be an alternate technology for the recycling and environmentally safe disposal/management of tannery sludge compost using an epigeic earthworm E. foetida.