Enhancing Wheat Growth on Calcareous, Sandy, and Clay Soils through Farmyard Manure and Spirulina Extract Applications for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

The main objective of this investigation was to boost wheat productivity by reinforce calcareous, sandy and clay soils properties, i.e., some physical and chemical properties of the study soils using organic farmyard manure and Spirulina platensis extract (SPE) for achieving the sustainable agriculture aspect. The field experiments conducted in Kafr El-Sheikh and El-Behera Governorates, Egypt. Yield of wheat crop, concentrations of macronutrient in grains and straw as well as total microbial count were determined. Application of organic farmyard manure (FYM) significantly improved the hydro-physical properties of tested soils, i.e., Bulk density (Mg m-3), Total porosity (%), EC dS.m-1, pH, organic matter, SAR, Cations (Na+, K+, Ca++, and Mg++ meqL-1), Anions (CO3=, HCO3-, Cl- and SO4= meqL-1) and chemical available macronutrient (NPK) compared to control (minerals fertilizer) in the cultivated soils during 2022 and 2023 seasons. Also, Application of Farmyard Manure (FYM), with rate of 10-ton ha-1 and foliar with SPE consisted of 2.4 L during the vegetative growth stages of wheat alone or together improved the yield content of grains and straw of wheat as well as concentrations of N, P, K and protein content during two separated seasons with all soil types under studied. Clay soil had the best effect with the treatments compared with minerals applied where the calcareous soil came in the second-order while the sandy soil came in the last order. Clay soil with the great number of total count. Also, results showed that clay soil was the best effected with FYM application compared with other soils. Thus, on a long- term, these treatments can replace partially N, P and K mineral fertilizers, which reduce production costs and conserve the environment from chemical pollution hazards on human and animal health. Also, will enhance soil propertied and wheat productivity in clay, calcareous and sandy soils.