Cumulative and residual effects of compost in different crop rotations under sandy soil conditions

Cropping sequences has been shown to increase crop yields and improve land utilization in many cases, through building up organic matter in poor soils which can be enhanced and improved crop production, as well as better quality. The objective of the current work was to determine the effect of application of organic compost at the rate of 10 m3 fd-1 under dissimilar crop rotation. So, field trials were conducted in sandy soil with four field crops in two different crop rotations in 4 successive winter and summer seasons. The treatments were: no compost (as control), compost applied annually (cumulative) or two treatments applied in alternate seasons (residual). The results indicated that crop yields from the seasonal application of compost were generally significantly greater than those resulting from applications made in alternate seasons in the two rotations. Significant differences were also observed between the two alternate seasonal applications of organic compost compared with the residual effect of compost applied in the previous season. The nutrient contents of wheat were small, being below the levels normally recommended for optimum production and trace element concentrations were adequate, except for copper which was low. A similar magnitude was reported for berseem except for zinc which achieved adequacy levels under cumulative compost applications. The present data highlight the major cumulative and residual agronomic value of compost in arable crop production on reclaimed lands for different crop rotations under such impoverished soils. It could be concluded from the existing study that selecting a proper cropping sequence along with managing organic fertilizer programs can produce higher yield, maintain soil health and improve crop production without jeopardizing soil native nutrients and soil nutrients balance.