Improving and Sustaining some Soil Properties by Application of some Soil Amendments and N- Fertilizer and its Effect on Productivity of Wheat and Rice Crops under Salt-Affected Soils

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at El-Hamoul, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, over two seasons, winter 2020/2021 and summer 2021, to improve and sustain some soil properties and productivity both of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) by adding phosphogypsum (PG), vermicompost (VC), and different rates of nitrogen fertilizers to salt-affected soils. Split plot design was used to arrange the experimental designs. Soil amendments were used in the main plots: T1: Control, T2: PG (10.39Mg ha-1)equivalent to 100% gypsum requirement (GR), (Mg = 1000kg), T3:VC(10Mg ha-1)and T4: PG (10.39Mg ha-1)+ VC (5Mg.ha-1). The N-fertilization subplots were N1: 50%, N2: 75% and N3: 100% of the N-recommended dose. The obtained results revealed that soil amendments significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced electrical conductivity (ECe, dSm-1), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP, %), soil bulk density (kg m3), and soil penetration resistances (Mpa), while PG + VC treatment had the lowest values afterharvesting both of wheat and rice. In addition, the combination treatment (PG + VC) showed significantly increased for cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil porosity (%), and soil basic infiltration rate (IR, cm h-1) after harvesting both of wheat and rice. 1000-grain weight, grain, and straw yield of wheat and rice were highly significantly increased by application of PG , VC and increased up to 100% from N recommended and they attained the highest values due to the interaction of 100%PG + 50%VC + 100% N, which may be suggested to be applied under this circumstance.