The objective of this study is to examine the role of some organic (composted tobacco waste, CTW; bio-humus, BH; chicken manure, CM) soil amendments on soil physical properties and yield of maize. A 3-year field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm of Ege University in Menemen, Izmir, Turkey from 2009 to 2011. The treatments, (1) control, (2) 4 t/ha CM+NPK, (3) 50 t/ha CTW, (4) 10 t/ha BH+NPK, were arranged in complete randomized block design with four treatment replications. Both of BH (composted plant residues) and CM were obtained from organic manure industry. Tobacco wastes were gathered from the cigarette industry and applied to maize (Zea mays L.) after composting period with the other amendments. During the experiment, two soil samples were collected in three different periods (3 June 2009–23 October 2009; 1 June 2010–5 November 2010; 13 July 2011–21 October 2011). The effects of CM, BH, and CTW on physical properties of the soil and yield were investigated. According to our results, all organic amendments increased porosity, structure stability index, field capacity, wilting point, and available water amount and decreased bulk density and particle density of soil when compared to the control. We additionally determined that these organic amendments positively affected grain yield.

There is a large amount of organic waste depending on the climatic conditions and product diversity in the agricultural areas of Turkey. These wastes can be used as a soil conditioner to reduce environmental problems and enrich soil organic matter by the transformation of organic wastes into organic manure with the process of composting. This study was performed to investigate the effects of composted greenhouse wastes (tomato residues) and animal manure on macro nutrient contents of soil and green pepper yield. Treatments were as follows: (1) Control, (2) mineral fertilizer, (3) 40 t ha-1 animal manure, (4) 40 t ha-1 animal manure + mineral fertilizer, (5) 40 t ha-1 tomato residuals, (6) 40 t ha-1 tomato residuals + mineral fertilizer, (7) 80 t ha-1 tomato residuals, (8) 80 t ha-1 tomato residuals + mineral fertilizer. Three replicates each of disturbed soil samples (two sampling) were collected (0-20 cm) from each treatment in two vegetation period and green pepper was used as a test plant in the study. In consequence of the research, significant increases were observed in crop yield and macro nutrient contents of soil. The highest increasing rate was analyzed in yield values as 305%. The most effective treatments on soil macro nutrient content and yield were determined as 40 t ha-1 animal manure combined with mineral fertilizer and 80 t ha-1 composted tomato residues combined with mineral fertilizer.

Bu araştırma, seralardan hasat sonrası elde edilen atıkların kompost haline getirilerek ahır gübresi ile beraber toprağa uygulanması sonucunda, toprağın bazı kimyasal özellikleri (pH, EC, OM, kireç, KDK) ve biber (Capsicum annuum L.) verimi üzerine olan etkilerini incelemek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Çalışma, 2014-2015 yılları arasında, Kütahya’nın Simav ilçesinde bulunan Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Simav Meslek Yüksekokulu’na ait seralarda tesadüf blokları deneme desenine göre 6m²’lik (3x2) parsellerde üç tekrarlı olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Denemedeki uygulamalar; (1) NPK, (2) 4 t da^-1 ahır gübresi+NPK, (3) 4 t da^-1 kompost+NPK, (4) 8 t da^-1 kompost+NPK, (5) Kontrol, (6) 4 t da^-1 kompost, (7) 4 t da^-1 ahır gübresi, (8) 8 t da^-1 kompost olarak belirlenmiştir. Denemede uygulanan sera atıkları Simav yöresi Eynal bölgesindeki seralardan, yanmış ahır gübresi ise yöredeki üreticilerden elde edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, toprağın kimyasal özellikleri ve biber verimi üzerine en etkili uygulamaların (2) 4 t da^-1 ahır gübresi+NPK, (4) 8 t da^-1 kompost+NPK ve (6) 4 t da^-1 kompost olduğu belirlenmiştir.

The goal of this study was to explore the effects of various soil conditioners on selected properties (pH; organic matter, OM; electrical conductivity, EC; cation exchange capacity, CEC) of a Xerofluvent soil and corn yield. During the experiment, four amendments were applied in an experimental set of plots: tobacco waste compost (TWC), poultry manure (PM), bio-humus (BH), and chemical fertilizer (NPK). Soils were treated with TWC at the rate 50 t ha-1, PM at the rate 4 t ha-1, BH at the rate 10 t ha-1 and NPK at the rate 300 kg ha-1, respectively. All organic conditioners were increased soil pH, OM, CEC, EC and corn yield when compared with the control soil and these parameters have been changed from 5.7% to 333%. The most effective soil conditioners were determined as tobacco waste compost, biohumus, and poultry manure. The findings of current study suggest that 50 t ha-1 TWC should be added to soil as a priority for improving properties of a Typic Xerofluvent soil and crop yield.

Cover crop management practices have a critical impact for long-term sustainable soil productivity due to their positive effects on soil hydro-physical properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes of water retention, pore-size distributions, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), and bulk density values of soil samples collected before and after tillage in response to cover crop (CC) and no-cover crop (NCC) treatments. Research was conducted on a silt loam soil in Chariton County, Missouri, United States. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), red clover (Trifolium pretense), turnips (Brassica rapa L.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), cereal rye (Secale cereals L.), winter peas (Lathryrus hirsutus L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.), radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. longipinnatus), and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were used as the CCs. Soil sampling was performed in two different periods (spring/summer) from six replicate locations for each treatment using a grid sample design. Results showed that CC treatment had significantly greater water content in first samples for some pressures (0.0, –2.5 and –1500 kPa) and in second soil samples for all pressures. Total pores and macropores were significantly greater under CC treatment compared to no-cover crop (NCC) treatment for both sampling period. K_s and bulk density values of first and second soil samples were not significantly affected by cover crop treatment. Longer term studies are needed to compare effects of cover crop and tillage on soil hydro-physical properties.