Effect of Organic Conditioners on some Hydro- Physical and Mechanical Properties of Sandy Soil

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Soil and water dept.faculty of agriculture Alexandria university Egypt

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of various organic conditioners on some hydrophysical, mechanical properties, and evaporation from the surface layer of sandy soil collected from the Al-Bustan region, Egypt. Treatments were coffee grounds (CG), plant ash (PA) at cocentrations 5% & 10% and low release humic granular (LRHG) (0.5%, 1%, 5% and 10%) based on the volume basis of sandy soil plus control treatment. Three separated laboratory expirments were done on sandy soil samples. First one was subjected to wet and dry cycles to assess how organic conditioners affect saturated hydraulic conductivity. The second experiment was conducted to follow the changes of penetration resistance (PR) after one week and two weeks from starting time. The third experiment measured evaporation from the surface layer of sandy soil at intervals of 5, 7, 10, and 14 days from the start. The results indicated that organic conditioners caused a significant decrease in saturated hydraulic conductivity values in sandy soil. Specifically, Ks values decreased by 93%, 63%, and 98% in CG, PA, and LRHG treatments, respectively, compared to the control treatment. The highest PR values observed were 2.4, 0.40, and 0.13 kg/cm² in LRHG, CG, PA, and treatments, respectively. Significant differences were observed between most of the treatments. The addition of organic conditioners retarded and reduced evaporation from surface layer of sandy soil depending on surround weather condition, type and concentration of the conditioners. The result of cumulative evaporation (E) showed that there were no significant differences between CG&PA, while it was a highly significant differences between LRHG and (CG, PA). The results appeared there were highly significant differences between the concentration of conditioners. While there was a significant difference in time period less than one week. We can conclude that it is better to make a comromise between the effect of a LRHG concentrations on mechanical and hydrophysical properties of soil to recommend a proper concentration of this conditioner as a soil amendment to obtain the best plant growth.

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Alexandria Science Exchange Journal
Volume 45, Issue 2
APRIL-JUNE
June 2024
Pages 321-330

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