Research Article

A Comparative Study on the Impact of Compost, Humate, and Silicate on the Nutritional Characteristics of Calcareous Soil Cultivated by Soybean

Dalal H. Sary and Rama T. Rashad*

Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Area code: 12112, P.O. Box: 175 El-Orman, Egypt.

Received | April 13, 2020; Accepted | October 12, 2020; Published | November 29, 2020

*Correspondence | Rama T. Rashad, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Area code: 12112, P.O. Box: 175 El-Orman, Egypt; Email: rtalat2005@yahoo.com, Rama.mostafa@arc.sci.eg

Citation | Sary, D.H. and R.T. Rashad. 2020. A comparative study on the impact of compost, humate, and silicate on the nutritional characteristics of calcareous soil cultivated by soybean. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 36(4): 1227-1235.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2020/36.4.1227.1235

Keywords | Compost, Calcareous soil, Humate, Silicate, Soil amendments, Soybean

Introduction

Desert area at the west Nile Delta of Egypt has gained an interest to increase its agricultural sustainability and productivity. Reclamation projects and irrigation network covered about 23,000 hectares at the west of Nubaryia, Alex. Cairo desert road since 1969. Nevertheless, water-salt balance was altered over years by raised ground water table causing soil salinization. Water logging and salinization are major problems restrict the agricultural sustainability and productivity of the region (Khalifa and Beshay, 2015).

Geologically, the region is a part of Pleistocene limestone sediments of old marine formed by successive high sea level. Satellite image and soil survey studies revealed distinguishable categories of deteriorated surface soil. Soil mapping showed that non-saline calcareous loam deep soils represent 15.2% unit area (Khalifa and Morsy, 2007). Remote sensing and geographical information systems GIS techniques provided Land sat images of the cultivated land and surface water logging. Such degraded soils suffer from fertility problems and crop yield limiting factors (Amer and Moghanm, 2017).

Poor productivity of calcareous soils is often due to low organic matter and high CaCO3 content that reduces nutrient availability (Ibrahim and Ali, 2018). Many techniques were studied to improve the nutritional status and crop yield of this type of soil (Eid et al., 2013). Fertigation by addition of humic substances to NPK fertilizer through drip irrigation system decreased leaching of N and K to deeper layer and, increased soil available P (Selim et al., 2010).

Humic substances (HS) are natural organic compounds have complex chemical structures originated from plants, peat, soil, and coals and can improve soil physically, chemically, and microbiologically (Ouni et al., 2014). Humates are salts of humic acids that are more soluble and active component of HS. Commercially available humates used in agriculture include K, Ca, B, and Na (Lyons and Genc, 2016).

Foliar application of HS is a common agricultural practice because of their hormone-like impact on growth promotion (Ouni et al., 2014) improve plant yield and quality (Mohsen et al., 2017). Commercial humates, especially K humate, are used as soil conditioners to enhance soil structure and water retention capacity (Karčauskienė et al., 2019). Iron-humates have been applied to soybean iron deficient plants to provide nutritional iron in calcareous soils (Cieschi et al., 2019).

Humic acid rich materials such as composts are in some cases better than humates that are easily leached by rainfall and irrigation. Compost is produced by controlled biological decomposition of organic material. It is used as an amendment to enhance soil chemical, physical, and biological properties due to its organic matter content. Compost is not a fertilizer but can reduce the required amount of fertilizer, efficient in improving plant growth and suppressing soil-borne plant pathogens (El-Mougy et al., 2014; Badar et al., 2015).

The last 15 years introduced interesting studies about the impact of Si fertilization on the yield quantity and quality of cereals like soybean. Potassium silicate is a silica amendment of highly soluble potassium (K) and silicon (Si). It is approved by the USDA for conventional agriculture as a fertilizer compatible with sustainable agriculture. Foliar application of potassium silicates showed a bio-simulative effect under stress conditions for plants such as salinity (Bayat et al., 2013), water deficiency (Cruz et al., 2014), etc. Sodium meta-silicate (Na2SiO3) enhanced K use efficiency and ameliorated symptoms caused by deficiency in essential nutrients (Lee et al., 2010; Miao et al., 2010).

Soil application of Si-rich materials remains the most effective method that enhances Si uptake by plants and increased soybean yields by 7.5–13.6% (Liang et al., 2015). Application of potassium meta-silicate (K2SiO3, 12 kg ha-1) has increased the concentration of K+ in wheat shoots and grains (Artyszak, 2018). Fertilization by Si enhanced plant phosphorus (P) utilization (Agostinho et al., 2017).

Silicon in the soil is continuously removed via crop uptake and by leaching (NOSB TAP Review, 2003). Plant-available Si in soils can be depleted by continuous cultivation of some crops such as rice. Absorption through roots appeared to be the only Si-uptake mechanism by rice plants (Agostinho et al., 2017).

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important crop scientifically and agriculturally (Ouda et al., 2010). In Egypt, a decrease in the soybean production (tons) by 57.79% was from 1993 to 2008 due to biotic and abiotic factors negatively affecting production (El Agroudy et al., 2011; Khalil et al., 2011). Application of organic manure as well as foliar application of micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn and B) has enhanced the soybean yield and seed quality (Mekki and Ahmed, 2005; Abdel-Latif and El Haggan, 2014).

Field studies are required to match different soil conditioners with specific sandy soils and crops. The aim of this study is compare the impact of compost, potassium humate (K-H), and potassium silicate (K-Si) on the soybean crop cultivated under the calcareous soil conditions. Nutrient availability and uptake were estimated.

 

Materials and Methods

Area of the study

The field experiment has been carried out during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 at El-Nubaryia Agricultural Research Station (latitude of 30° 30°N longitude of 30° 20°E) Agricultural Research Center (ARC ), Nubaryia, Egypt. The experimental area has an arid climate with cool winters and hot dry summers. Some properties of the experiment calcareous soil [Calcisol] (Khalifa and Beshay, 2015; FAO, 2014) are presented in Table 1.

 

Table 1: Some characteristics of the experiment soil before cultivation.

Particle size distribution (%)
Sand	Silt	Clay	Texture class
44.95	28.1	23.5	Sandy Loam
CaCO3 (%)	Organic matter % OM	pH†	Electrical conductivity EC (dS m-1)‡
33.66	4.13	8.3	0.31

† (1:2.5 soil : water suspension) ‡ (1:1 soil : water extract).

 

Materials used in the study and planting

The studied materials were applied to the experiment soil at two rates: 50% and 100% of the recommended dose that is for compost: 7.81 t ha-1, potassium silicate: 16.67 L ha-1, potassium humate: 15.63 kg ha-1. Compost treatments 3.75 and 7.5 kg plot-1 (3.91 and 7.81 t ha-1, respectively) were mixed with surface soil a week before cultivation. Potassium humate was commercial K-humate powder 60%, K2O- 7% and potassium silicate was commercial liquid K2SiO3, K2O– 10%, SiO2– 25%. Potassium humate was applied as powder; 7.5 and 15 g plot-1 spread on soil while solutions of K-silicate; 8 and 16 mL L-1 for plot was sprayed on soil 30, 60, and 90 days after cultivation. Some characteristics of the studied additives are presented in Table 2.

 

Table 2: Some estimated properties of materials applied in the study.

Material	pH‡	EC‡, dS m-1	OC, %	Total, g kg-1
				N	P	K
Compost (C)	8.53	2.67	11.30	13.44	7.0	12.0
K-Silicate	7.00	7.00	-	-	-	98.0
K-Humate	7.40	19.05	16.89	20.20	12	62.0

 

Planting was carried out on the 1st of June (2018 and 2019) in four ridges per plot. Three soybean seeds (Giza 111 variety) were hand-sown in each hole along the ridge. The twenty-one plot (3.2 m × 3 m = 9.6 m2 plot area, 4 ridges) received the recommended dose of the NPK fertilizer (Before planting, calcium superphosphate (15.5% P2O5- 200 kg ha-1) was applied during seedbed preparation. Potassium sulfate (48% K2O- 75 kg ha-1) was applied 21 days after planting. Urea (46% N - 90 kg N ha-1) was divided in two equal doses prior to the 1st and 2nd irrigations). Different treatments including a control (without additives) were distributed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The cultivated area of study was irrigated 30, 60, and 90 days after sowing. The change in soil moisture (∆SM, %) due to application of compost, K-H, and K-Si was estimated 48 h after irrigation by core method (Black, 1982) and calculated according to the Equations 1 and 2:

Soil and plant sampling

At harvest, representative soil and plant samples from all experimental plots were randomly selected and air-dried to estimate the following characteristics: Plant height (cm), number of branches/and number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight (g), seed yield plant-1 (g), shelling (%), and seed yield (t ha-1) have been calculated based on the seed yield per plot area and the mean of the two seasons was recorded.

Analysis of soil and plant samples’ content of N, P, and K

The soil available N, P, and K were extracted by 1% K2SO4, 0.5 N NaHCO3, and 1 N NH4OAc (pH 7.0), respectively (Black, 1965; Jackson, 1973). Soybean seeds were dried at 70ºC for 48 h and ground. A half gram of the ground seeds was wet digested using the acid mixture (1:1 H2SO4/HClO4) (Chapman and Pratt, 1961). Total concentrations of N, P and K in plant and soil extracts were estimated by distillation using Kjeldahl apparatus, colorimetrically by the UV-Vis. Spectrophotometer and by flame photometer, respectively. Protein percentage in seeds was calculated as the N (%) × 6.25. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Si in seeds’ extract were measured by the ICP Spectrometry (ICP-Ultima 2 JY Plasma).

Statistical analysis

The statistical significance (LSD) of the treatments effect was estimated by the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Gomez and Gomez, 1984). Calculations were carried out at a significance level P= .05 using the Co-State Software Package (Ver. 6.311), a product of Cohort software Inc., Berkley, California.

 

Results and Discussion

Availability of macronutrients in soil

Results in Table 3 indicate that applied K-H at 100% of the recommended dose has increased soil available N (mg kg-1) significantly at a significance level of P = .05 depending on the LSD value by 77.8% compared to the control. Non-significant increase by 36.7% and 22.2% was observed for K-H (rate 50%) and K-Si (rate 100% ) treatments, respectively. Non-significant decrease in the available N in soil was observed for compost and K-Si treatments by 11.1% and 22.2% at application rate 50%, respectively. Non-significant variation was observed for the soil available P and K (mg kg-1) under the effect of different treatments. However, maximum increase in available P was due to compost at rates 50 and 100% by 54.6% and 36.4%, respectively. Minimum decrease by 45.4% was recorded for K-Si at the rate 50%. Maximum increase in the soil available K can be observed from Table 3 for compost treatments by 23.8% compared to the control. While minimum decrease was due to K-H at rate 50% by 20.6%.

 

Table 3: Soil available NPK after harvesting.

Treatment	Application rate	Available (mg kg-1)
		N	P	K
	Before planting	13.44c*	4.00a	293.00ab
	Control	20.16bc	7.33a	293.07ab
Compost	50%	17.92bc	11.33a	362.87a
	100%	20.16bc	10.00a	362.87a
K-H	50%	27.55ab	8.00a	232.60b
	100%	35.84a	6.33a	293.07ab
K- Si	50%	15.68bc	4.00a	344.27a
	100%	24.64abc	8.67a	335.00a
L.S.D 5%		12.32	7.62	91.07
Significance of factors		*	ns	ns

*The footnotes (a–h) indicate the non-significance ranges for the different treatments.

 

Since all treatments have received equal doses from NPK fertilization according to recommendations, variation in the available N, P, and K (mg kg-1) in soil can be attributed to the effect of the studied additives. Two factors affect nutrient availability for plant that is soil nature and amendment properties. The studied soil is sandy clay loam of medium texture. Solubilized nutrients are not quickly leached and can be kept within soil until a reasonable time before loss. Compost and K-H can produce additional N; P and K nutrients in soil as well as K-Si can add K. Although compost has lower NPK content (g kg-1) than K-H, its application has increased the soil available P and K more than K-H and K-Si. This may be due to the slow decomposition and slow release of nutrients behaviour of compost in soil. Both K-H and K-Si are water-soluble salts more leachable away from root zone compared to the compost. Therefore, available P and K in soil was lower concentration for K-H and K-Si treatments. Lower available N in soil can be caused by more N uptake from compost being biocompatible by the microorganisms’ activity. Humate moieties solubilized from K-H may be retained or adsorbed by some soil particles after K-H dissolution in soil solution, which increased available N in soil but decreased N uptake by plant compared to the compost. Potassium silicate treatments were almost free of additional N or P, but played a role in their availability in soil from routine fertilization and uptake by plant. Chemical similarity between phosphate (H2PO4−) and silicate (H3SiO4−) ions may play a role in phosphorus (P) utilization by plant and in soil. Some competition between H2PO4− and H3SiO4− ions for specific soil sorption sites may occur, in which adsorbed H2PO4− is displaced by H3SiO4− and then became available for plant uptake (Agostinho et al., 2017). The presence of Si and P in the soil may create a synergistic effect on soil Al, Mn, and As (Gonzalo et al., 2013; Mihara et al., 2017).

Yield components and characteristics of soybean

Soil application of compost, K-H, and K-Si in the present study resulted in significant increase in the estimated yield parameters of soybean crop compared to the control and to each other (Table 4). Increasing application rate from 50 to 100% of the recommended dose increased the plant length (cm), number of shoots, number of pods, seed yield (kg ha-1), 100-seed wt. (g), and shelling (%). Most significant increase in the plant length (cm) was by 40.9 and 39.5% recorded for compost and K-Si at the rate 100%, respectively. The least significant increase was by 19.2% for K-H at the rate 50%. Also, the 100% application rate of compost showed the most significant increase in the number of shoots (81.6%) and pods (123%), seed yield (kg ha-1, 84.9%) 100-seed wt. (g, 45.9%), and shelling (%, by 50.4%) compared to the control. The next most significant increase in the number of shoots (71.3%), seed yield (kg ha-1, 69.1%) and shelling (%, by 16.5%)

 

Table 4: Yield and some yield components and characteristics.

Treatment	Application rate	Plant length (cm)	No. of shoots	No. of pods	Seed yield (kg ha-1)	100-seed wt. (g)	Shelling (%)
	Control	66.66d*	2.72b	33.33c	1475.84f	11.55b	58.79c
Compost	50%	80.00c	3.22b	36.33bc	1920.62e	11.54b	59.22c
	100%	93.89a	4.94a	74.33a	2728.53a	16.85a	88.41a
K-H	50%	79.44c	3.11b	46.89bc	2403.32c	12.27ab	54.34d
	100%	84.33bc	4.66a	48.89bc	2495.22b	12.57ab	68.50b
K- Si	50%	87.22abc	3.22b	36.33bc	2291.06d	10.98b	53.65d
	100%	93.00ab	3.22b	52.22b	2470.40bc	11.21b	58.78c
L.S.D 5%		8.75	0.60	18.46	79.88	4.59	2.69
Significance of factors		***	***	**	***	ns	***

* The footnotes (a–h) indicate the non-significance ranges for the different treatments.

 

was observed for K-H followed by K-Si (67.4%) at the 100 % application rate as indicated by Table 4.

This behavior can be attributed to the organic nature of compost and K-H, which is rich in biocompatible nutrients readily available for absorption by plant compared to inorganic K-Si limited to available K and Si. Compost succeeded more than K-H due to its slow release of nutrients. Additionally, soil application of the studied amendments affects the role of soil during the cultivation season. Compost can improve water movement through soil; enhance soil chemical, physical, and biological properties due to its organic matter content (Krull et al., 2012; Darlington, 2014; El-Mougy et al., 2014; Badar et al., 2015). Soil may be enriched by versatile advantages upon application of K-H and K-Si but still compost is the most effective. Humates and silicates enhance soil structure and water retention capacity, activate beneficial soil microbes, and deactivate toxic metals (Agostinho et al., 2017; Karčauskienė et al., 2019). Studies referred to that yield components of soybean enhanced by Si application (Artyszak, 2018).

Impact of compost, K-H and K-Si applied to soil on the total N, P, and K content of soybean

Results obtained for N, P, and K availability as affected by compost, K-H, and K-Si applied to soil may be reflected in the total N, P, and K content of soybean seeds. Significant increase was observed in Table 5 for the total N and in turn in protein (%), while non-significant variation was observed for total P and K compared to the control. Compost at rate 100% showed the most significant increase of protein and total N (~77.1%) followed by K-Si (~ 60.7%) then K-H (~ 17.7%). Compost also showed the maximum increase in seeds’ total P by 4.9% and total K by 2.7% compared to the control. Soil application of K-H and K-Si decreased but non-significantly the total P in soybean seeds. This may be due to P leaching loss affected by humate and silicate moieties. Additional K content of K-H and K-Si could not increase the total K in seeds significantly.

 

Table 5: Total content of N, P, and K in soybean seeds.

Treatment	Application rate	Protein (%)	Seeds (g kg-1)
			N	P	K
	Control	25.62d*	40.99c	7.77ab	9.95ab
Compost	50%	40.31abc	64.50ab	7.68ab	9.88b
	100%	45.36a	72.58a	8.15a	10.22a
K-H	50%	29.68cd	47.48bc	6.90b	9.96ab
	100%	30.15bcd	48.24bc	7.17ab	9.85b
K- Si	50%	34.71abcd	55.54abc	7.28ab	9.99ab
	100%	41.16ab	65.86ab	7.22ab	10.05ab
L.S.D 5%		11.16	18.44	1.13	0.33
Significance of factors		*	*	ns	ns

*The footnotes (a–h) indicate the non-significance ranges for the different treatments.

 

Concentration (mg kg-1) of micronutrients in soybean seeds

Table 6 shows a significant (at P= .05 ) variation in the concentration (mg kg-1) of micronutrients in soybean seeds affected by the studied treatments compared to the control. For compost and K-Si, increasing the rate of application from 50 to 100% almost decreased the concentration (mg kg-1) of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Si in soybean seeds significantly. Oppositely, increasing K-H application rate from 50 to 100% increased the seeds’ content (mg kg-1) of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn; but decreased total Si (mg kg-1). Among treatments, K-Si at 100% application rate resulted in the most significant decrease in seeds’ Fe (by 16.8%) and the most significant increase in seeds’ Si (by 50.7%). On the other hand, K-H at same rate showed the most significant increase in seeds’ Fe (by 21.2%) and the most significant decrease in seeds’ Si (by 28.1%).

 

Table 6: Concentration (mg/kg) of micronutrients in soybean seeds for different treatments.

Treatment	Application rate	Seeds (mg/kg)
		Cu	Fe	Mn	Zn	Si
	Control	26.8a*	371.3b	65.5a	60.6a	198.9e
Compost	50%	21.6ab	348.3c	61.2ab	59.8ab	221.9c
	100%	20.8b	324.5d	51.8de	54.3c	214.3d
K-H	50%	18.5b	324.2d	48.4e	47.0d	237.1b
	100%	22.3ab	450.0a	58.7bc	55.1bc	143.1f
K- Si	50%	18.3b	354.2c	58.2bc	53.9c	299.8a
	100%	18.5b	308.9e	54.9cd	52.4c	220.4cd
L.S.D 5%		5.21	8.27	5.71	5.21	6.72
Significance of factors		*	***	***	**	***

*The footnotes (a–h) indicate the non-significance ranges for the different treatments.

 

This observed behaviour could be explained by the effect of two main factors: (1) chemical nature of compost, K-H, and K-Si, and (2) enhanced absorption of Si by soybean seeds. It has been well defined that HS bear miscellaneous chelating groups (carboxylic, phenolic and alcoholic) in soil solution able to bind to soil mineral surfaces. They can form metal complexes, oxidize/reduce elements, control root uptake of micronutrients by plants and microorganisms, and fix some heavy metals. Humic substances in compost and K-H improve nutrient uptake and decrease the uptake of toxic elements such as Cd, Cu, Pb, as studied previously (Ouni et al., 2014). Difference between compost and K-H may be caused by the direct chelating action of soluble humate ligands produced from dissolution of K-H that increase micronutrients absorption by plant. Organo-metallic complexes of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn absorbed by soybean seeds may compete for Si absorption and hence decrease Si concentration in seeds in case of K-H.

Soybean shows a high response to Si application because it is a Si-accumulator plant; with Si-transporters facilitate uptake and distribution of Si between leaves and grains (Cruz et al., 2014; Rashad and Hussien, 2018). In the present study, soil application of compost, K-H and K-Si showed a highly significant increase in seeds’ content of Si (mg kg-1) compared to the control. Potassium silicate was the most effective Si-source in this study due to easily soluble Si in soil solution produced by K-Si dissolution. Silicon may partially control the availability and uptake of some nutrients (Schaller et al., 2017; Greger et al., 2018).

 

 

Soil moisture change (%)

Results for the three irrigations were plotted in Figure 1. Soil moisture (%) for all applications increased from first irrigation to the second irrigation that showed the maximum ∆SM (%) then decreased to minimum in the third one. Compost maximized ∆SM (%) followed by K-Si. It may be due to the swelling of compost particles and silicate moieties. Soil structure improved by soil applications perhaps includes expanded voids and pores which entrap water that is consumed by plant during its growth step.

 

Conclusions and Recommendations

Compost showed the most significant increase in soil available (mg kg-1) and seed total (g kg-1) nitrogen, seed yield (kg ha-1) and seed protein (%), and soil moisture (%) after irrigation compared to the control, K-H and K-Si. Potassium silicate resulted in the most significant increase in concentration (mg kg-1) of Si in soybean seeds being a Si-source. The studied amendments mitigated the uptake of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Si by soybean seeds in a variable manner. Compost can be considered the most effective for soybean cultivation in calcareous soil compared with K-H and K-Si.

 

Acknowledgments

Author’s wish to thank the Staff Members of Sandy and Calcareous Soil Research Department and Nubaryia Agricultural Research Station for their great assistance and valuable support in conducting this experiment.

 

Novelty Statement

It is the optimization of the calcareous soil status to optimize its crop production by utilization of eco-friendly fertilizers like compost, K-humate and K-silicate. In addition, it is to differentiate between the three fertilizers regarding soybean yield and quality in calcareous soil.

 

Author’s Contribution

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors: DHS and RTR. Both authors designed the study and designed the experimentation. The author DHS followed up the field-work. The author RTR managed the laboratory analyses of the study, literature survey, performed the statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Compete of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

 

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