The Effect of the Rates of Different Organic Fertilizers on Restoring Aggregate Stability and Productivity of Eroded Soils

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to find out the effect of incorporation of various organic matter sources such as tobacco waste (TB), tea waste (TE) and bio-solid (BS) on the restoration of aggregate stability (AS) and productivity of eroded soil. The organic matter sources were incorporated into three different levels of the studied eroded soil. A bulk surface (0–20 cm depth) soil sample was taken from Samsun, in the north of Turkey. Some properties of the soil were determined as follows; fine in texture, moderate in organic matter content, moderate in pH and free of alkaline problem. The soil samples were treated with the organic materials at four different levels including the control treatments and each treatment was replicated three times in a randomized factorial block design. The soil samples were incubated for 4 weeks. After the incubation period, tomato plants were grown in all pots. The organic matter treatment increased the AS and productivity of the eroded soil significantly. Effectiveness of the treatments varied depending on the types of organic matter and levels of soil erosion. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.