Sulphur Compost Properties and its Amelioration Effect on Salt Affected Soil Characteristics and Productivity

Abstract

WO consecutive experiments were conducted, the first one aims to find out the effect of elemental sulphur on the characteristics of the produced compost, and the second one was to study the effect of the compost produced from the first experiment on the chemical properties and soil fertility of a salt affected soil and its productivity of wheat ( Triticum aestivum , Giza 12). These experiments were carried out at the greenhouse of Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt during the winter growing season of 2020/2021. The S was mixed with compost raw materials (maize stalks and farmyard manure) at rates of 0.0 (CS0), 1.0 (CS1), 2.0 (CS2) and 3.0 % (CS3) which incubated for 60 days. Individually in pot trial, the produced composts were mixed with salt affected soil at 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 % application rates and sowed by wheat. The results estimated of the produced compost showed that, addition of S led to the improvement of compost chemical properties. Obtained results show that S addition to composted materials resulted in a decrease pH and organic matter (OM) values of S-treated compost compared to untreated type (CS0), while the compost values of electrical conductivity (EC) and available nutrients (N, P, K and S) increased. Moreover, addition of different types and rates of the produced sulphur compost to a salt affected soil led to significant improvements in soil chemical properties and its content of available nutrients. Soil pH, EC, exchangeable Na and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values decreased with the increase of S in the applied compost, as well as with the increase its addition rate. Also, treating soil with compost that has a higher amount of S led to an increase in the soil value of OM, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cation (Ca, Mg and K), S forms (soluble, available and organic) and available nutrients (N, P and K ). Increasing rate of added compost either of unsulphur or sulphur form resulted in a significant increase in yields (straw, grains and biological) of wheat under saline soil conditions. In conclusion, the addition of sulphur improved the characteristics of compost, which by adding it to salt affected soil improved its chemical properties and productivity.