الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was carried out in Village No 1, Masora area , Beni- Sueif Governorate, Egypt during 2002-2006 to explore the possibility of using sesame straw as organic fertilizer for sandy soil through composting and cultivation trials.
The course of investigation consisted of the following experiments:
Part - 1: compost preparation and manurial value evaluation study.
Part -11: field experiments.
The soil used for the manurial value evaluation study was collected from Village No 1, Masora area , Beni- Sueif Governorate, Egypt to represent the newly reclaimed sandy soils and in which the field experiments was conducted .
The organic waste used as raw material in the compost preparation was the sesame straw.
The air dried threshed small pieces (3-5cm) of sesame straw (SS) was mixed with sex microbial activators and moistened with three moistening liquids (water, molasses and whey) to give 18 treatments with 3 replications.
The six microbial activators (MA) used in compost preparation were:
MA-1= farm yard manure (7.5%) used as activating control.
MA-2 = MA-1 + rock phosphate (1%).
MA-3= MA-1 + gypsum (5%).
MA-4= MA-1 + shale (5%).
MA- 5= MA-1 + bio-activator (EM1) (1L/ton).
MA 6-MA-1+ fertile soil (5%).
The 18 treatments are:
T1 = SS + MA-1 + water (compost1). T10 = SS + MA-4 + water (compost10).
T2 =SS+MA-1+ molasses (compost2). T11 =SS +MA-4 +molasses (compost11).
T3 = SS +MA-1 + whey (compost3). T12 = SS + MA-4 + whey (compost12).
T4 = SS +MA-2 + water (compost4). T13 = SS + MA-5 + water (compost1).
T5 = SS +MA-2+molasses (compost5). T14 =SS +MA-5 +molasses (compost14).
T6 = SS +MA-2 + whey (compost6). T15 = SS + MA-5+ whey(compost15).
T7 = SS + MA-3 + water (compost7). T16 = SS + MA-6 + water(compost16). T8 = SS +MA-3 +molasses(compost8). T17 =SS +MA-6+molasses (compost17).
T9 = SS + MA-3 + whey (compost9). T18 = SS + MA-6 + whey (compost18).
The data of compost maturity evaluated by lab tests and bio-tests
(dry matter yield of test crops) allowed us to restrict the number of compost used in field experiments from 18 as mentioned above to 3 composts of five months age on the basis of their applicability at the small farm scale. Consequently, field experiment using six application rates (0, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 tons/fed) of each compost of the three composts of five months composting age were conducted with maize and wheat as direct and residual crops, respectively. The aim of this experiment is to evaluate the manurial value of graded rates of these composts prepared with different composting systems and residual beneficial effects on soil properties and in turn on yields of test crops. Also, another field substitution study was carried simultaneously to find out the direct and residual effects of the integral use of organic (tested 3 composts) and inorganic (NPK fertilizers) on soil properties and in turn on yields of test crops. This field experiment in split plot design with 3 types of compost (compost activated with gypsum, fertile soil and rock phosphate) and 4 integrated application rates of each compost with NPK fertilizers (0% compost +100% recommended NPK, 33.33% compost + 66.67% recommended NPK, 50% compost + 50% recommended NPK and 66.67% compost + 33.33% recommended NPK) with 4 replications was performed in Village 1 at Mazora area, Beni-Sueif Governorate.
The obtained results of the present study could be summarized as under:
5-1. Part-1:Compost preparation and manurial value evaluation
study:
5.1.1. Laboratory evaluation:
Regardless of compost wetting liquid, the different microbial activators decreased the initial OC content, C/N ratio and pH value, on the other hand, using the microbial activator increased N, P, K and EC of the resultant composts. The efficiency of the different microbial activator is in the order: rock phosphate > gypsum > fertile soil > shale > bio-activator > control. Concerning the wetting liquid effect the order was mostly: molasses > water > whey.
5.1.2. Bio-test ( dry matter yield ) evaluation:
The different microbial activators increased yield parameters of wheat and faba bean as winter crops and the successive crops (maize and soya bean) as summer crops. The activators could take the following order in case of increasing yield of this crops: rock phosphate > gypsum > fertile soil > shale > bio-activator > control. The order in case of wetting liquids is mostly: molasses > water > whey.
From the results of this part it could be concluded that the rock phosphate, gypsum and fertile soil composts wetted with molasses are accepted to be the most promising composts among the tested composts, consequently, they will be used in the second part.
5.2. Part -11: Field experiment:
5.2.1. Compost application rate study:
5.2.1.1. Comparison between the direct and residual effects
of applied compost rate on yield and nutrients uptake by
the two successive crops.
1- Regarding maize (initial effect), the result in general indicate that
treating sandy with organic amendments increased the yield of grains
of maize irrespective of the type of organic amendment (composts)
over control which received no organic but inorganic fertilizers.
2- This increase was proportional to the application rate of the organic
amendment regardless of compost type.
3- The differences between the three types of composts were not
significant. However, the differences between the different application
rate were significant except the last two rates (10 & 12 t/fed.) where
they were on par with each other, regardless of compost type. Similar
trend was found in straw yield.
4- Regarding wheat (residual effect), data given in table 6 clearly
revealed that both grain and straw yields of wheat grown in the
compost treated soils were significantly higher than those in controls
as a result of the residual effect of composts applied to the first crop
(maize), regardless of compost type and its application rate. The
increase was proportional to the application rate, regardless of the type
of compost. The differences among rates were mostly significant,
whereas, between compost type were not.
5- Nitrogen uptake by maize and wheat plants was significantly increased
and the increase was proportional to the application rate regardless of
the compost type. The differences between the three types of compost
were not significant, whereas, between the different application rates
were significant.
6- Phosphorus uptake followed a similar trend as that of nitrogen uptake
in both crops.
7- Potassium uptake was highly similar to that of nitrogen as a trend and
magnitude in both crops.
5.2.1.2. Comparison between the direct and residual effects of applied
compost rate on some properties of post harvest soils of the two successive crops.
Moisture retention constants:
1- Field capacity, welting point and available water of the compost
treated soils had significantly improved as compared to control and the
improvement was proportional to the application rate.
2- The improvement was more pronounced in the post harvest treated
soils of first crop as compared to the second crop.
3- The performance of different composts was on par with each other
with no significant difference, whether after harvesting the first or the
second crop.
4- Among rates, the differences were not significant only between each
two neighboring rates, regardless of compost type and cultivation
period.
Physical and chemical properties:
1- Treating sandy soils with sesame straw composts slightly decreased
soil reaction and increased EC, OC and CEC values.
2- The decrease in soil reaction and the increase in EC, OC and CEC
were proportional to the increase in the application rate and generally
followed a decreasing trend with land use time passing, i.e., after first
and second crop, however, the difference between treated and
untreated soils still significant.
Nutrients content in soils:
1- Addition of sesame straw composts to sandy soil significantly
increased their available N, P and K in the treated soils after
harvesting of the two successive crops as compared to controls.
2- The increase in N, P and K content was proportional to the increase in
the application rate of compost.
3- The nutrients content was followed a decreasing trend with land use
time passing except in the case of av-P which performed a reversed
trend.
4- By and large, all the treatments left a residual fertility of N, P
and K after the second crop much higher than control or initial soil
fertility.
5.2.2. Substitution study:
5.2.2.1. Comparison between the direct and residual effect of the
integral use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield and nutrients uptake by the two successive crops.
1- There is a significant increase in the straw and grain yields of maize
and wheat crops over the respective controls (recommended NPK) due
to the different compost types applications before first crop, regardless
of the substitution percent.
2- Also, the higher yield grain and straw of both crops was recoded in
50% recommended NPK + 50% compost , whereas , the lower one
was recoded in 33.33% recommended NPK + 66.67% compost ,
regardless of compost type.
3- The increase percent in grain yield of wheat (residual effect) over
control was most obvious as compared to that grain yield of maize
(direct effect).
4- The differences between the three types of composts were not
significant, whereas, the differences between the different
combinations were mostly significant.
5- Nitrogen uptake by maize and wheat plants grown the integrated
treatments was increased regardless of the compost type. The
differences between the three types of compost were not significant.
However, the differences between the different combinations were
mostly significant. Also the higher N uptake was recoded in 50%
recommended NPK + 50% compost and the lower N uptake was
recoded in 33.33% recommended NPK + 66.67% compost, regardless
of compost type.
6- Phosphorus uptake in both crops followed a similar trend as that of
nitrogen uptake but the increase percent over control was the higher in
P uptakes as compared to that of N uptakes.
7- Potassium uptakes was similar to that of nitrogen as a trend but K
uptake still the higher.
8- Generally, NPK uptake by wheat followed a similar trend as that in the
case of yield with being the increase in P uptake as the most superior
either in the direct or the residual test crop.
5.2.2.2. Comparison between the direct and residual effect of the integral use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on some properties of post harvest soils the two successive crops.
Moisture retention constants :
1-Treating sandy soil with integrated treatments significantly increased its
moisture retention at FC, WP and available water as compared to the
chemical fertilizers treated soil and the increase was proportional to the
increase in the substitution percent of compost regardless of the
compost type.
2-The increase in FC, WP and available water of the integral treated
soils was significant after harvesting the two successive crops as
compared to the chemical fertilizers soils.
3-The differences between the three types of composts were not
significant, however, in this regard they were in the order rock
phosphate compost > fertile soil compost > gypsum compost.
4-Efficiency of the three types of composts was more pronounced in first
crop than in the second crop.
Physical and chemical properties :
1-Treating sandy soils with sesame straw composts slightly decreased soil
reaction and increased EC, OC and CEC values.
2-The decrease in soil reaction and the increase in EC, OC and CEC were
proportional to the increase in the organic part and generally followed
a decreasing trend with land use time passing, i.e., after first and
second crop, however, the difference between treated and untreated
soils still significant.
3-The differences between the three types of composts were not
significant.
Nutrients content in soils :
1-Treating sandy soils with sesame straw composts significantly
increased their available N, P and K in the treated soils after harvesting
of the two successive crops as compared to controls.
2-The increase in N, P and K content was mostly proportional to the
increase in the organic part.
3-The nutrients content was followed a decreasing tend with land use
time passing except in the case of available P which performed a
reserved trend.
4-All the treatments left a residual fertility of N, P and K after the second
crop much higher than control or the initial soil fertility.
Finally and according to the obtained results, the following conclusions and recommendations could be made:
1-Composting sesame straw for at least five months and enriching this
waste before composting is a must to get mature composts.
2-The gypsum, rock phosphate and fertile soil composts produced by
molasses as a wetting liquid were found to be the most efficient
composts among others.
3-Using the composted organic material had positive impact in improving
soil physical and chemical properties, and crop performance in coarse
textured soil.
4-By and large, all the treatments left a residual fertility of N\, P and K
after the second crop much higher than control or initial soil fertility.
5-From substitution study it was noticed that the integrated use of organic
and inorganic fertilizers is recommended in such poor soil.
6-Coarse textured soils still have a significant response to high rates of
compost application particularly in the first few years of cultivating
such virgin poor soil.
7-Further studies on field level including the economic aspects are
required to get sure of the obtained results, field applicability and
economics.