Effect of Adding Potassium and Organic Fertilizers on some Physical and Chemical Soil Properties and Vegetative Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Adding potassium and organic fertilizers increases the vitality of agricultural soil. The research was carried out in Deir Ezzor Governorate during the two agricultural seasons 2022/2023 with the aim of studying the effect of adding potassium and organic fertilizers and their interaction on some soil properties and vegetative growth of maize (Ghouta 82 variety). A factorial experiment was conducted according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment included two factors: the first was potassium fertilizer (potassium sulphate: K0:0- K1:100- K2:150- K3:200) kg K.ha^-1 and the second was organic fertilizer (sheep manure: OM0:0- OM1:15- OM2: 20- OM3:25) tons. ha^-1. The results showed: There were no significant differences in bulk density at all levels of potassium fertilizer, while the total porosity of the soil increased for the first and second seasons, and the electrical conductivity also increased for both seasons, and the increase was significant at K3 of potassium fertilizer compared to the rest of the treatments and the control. While the degree of soil interaction decreased at K3 for both seasons. Adding organic fertilizer to both seasons led to a significant decrease at OM3 in the values ​​of bulk density, degree of soil interaction, and electrical conductivity compared to the rest of the treatments and the control, while there was a significant increase in porosity for both seasons. As for the K3 and OM3 interference, the values ​​of both the bulk density and the degree of soil interaction decreased, and the porosity values ​​increased compared to the rest of the interactions and the control for the first and second seasons. While the electrical conductivity decreased when OM3 of organic fertilizer was mixed with K0 of potassium fertilizer. The results also show the positive effect of potassium and organic fertilizers separately on the studied plant characteristics (number of leaves, dry weight of shoots). As for the combined effect of both fertilizers, the best results were when K3 and K2 of potassium fertilizer were mixed with OM3 of organic fertilizer, as it increased (number of leaves, dry weight of shoots).