The Effect of Biogas Slurry and Manure on Some Soil Properties, Tomato and Eggplant Productivity

(Ghada Romans, Noble Credit, Mohammed Manhal Zoubi, Louay Hebron, Mahmoud Hourani)

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Abstract

A set of field experiments were conducted in order to study the effects of biogas residue and manure on soil properties and eggplant, tomato productivity. The work was conducted at Yadoda Research station in Darra Research center - Ceneral commission of scientific Agricultural research for the two seasons 2009 and 2010. Biogas unit was established at Yadoda Research station using the Indian8211; Chinese model. The experiment included eight treatments with three replications. The treatments were mineral fertilizer of 200kg nitrogen for tomato or 140 kg nitrogen for eggplant, biogas residue equal to 100, 200, 300% of the mineral fertilizer, manure equal to 100, 200, 300% of the mineral fertilize in addition to a control of no added amendement. Soil, biogas residue and manure were analyzed prior to the cultivationof the plants. Soil organic matter, soil total nitrogen, soil available phosphorus and soil available potassium were determined. Upon harvesting of plant, significant build up of organic matter was noticed in treatments amended with manure as compared to the control. Significant difference in soil total nitrogen was noticed in treatments amended with biogas residue as compared to control in the first season. The level of nitrogen in these treatments gradually increased with the increase of biogas residue amount. Increasing of available phosphorus was noticed in treatments amended with manure and treatments amended with biogas residue as compared to the control especially in the 2010 season. The best treatment was biogas residue 300% N and manure level 300% N. Moreover, soil available potassium increased in treatments amended with biogas residue at all levels as compared to the control especially at 2010 season. Significant differences in total N, P, and K in plant leaves were noticed in treatments amended with manure or biogas residue as compared to the control. There were significant differences on eggplant productivity with the increase of added biogas residue as compared to control. Significant difference was noticed in treatment amended with biogas residue to 300% N as compared to mineral-fertilized treatment with an average yield increase of 34%. Whereas, the productivity of treatment amended with biogas residue at 100% or 200% N were equal to productivity of mineral-fertilized treatment at the first season. There were significant differences on tomato productivity due to the increase of the added biogas residue as compared to control. The best productivity was in treatment amended with biogas residue 300% N (5% as compared to mineral-fertilized treatment in 2009 season) whereas it was similar to mineral-fertilized treatment at 2010 season. Key Words: biogas residue, biogas, soil, organic matter, soil properties.
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