The effect of sprinkler irrigation and ‘Agrosil’ on a heath‐podzol at Schleswig‐Holstein.
The individual and combined effect of the agrochemical ‘Agrosil’ and sprinkler irrigation on soil physical and soil chemical properties and the yield development of grain, maize and sugar beets, was tested during two years on a heath podzsol.
Pore volume and pore size distribution were not changed, except an increase in the proportion of micro pores, on treatment with Agrosil + sprinkler irrigation.
Soil water content and percentage available moisture capacity were increased by sprinkler irrigation, but lowered by 1.500 kg Agrosil/ha.
Due to its phosphate content Agrosil caused a slight increase in the lactate soluble phosphate.
The root growth was enhanced by sprinkler irrigation mainly in the surface layers, and by Agrosil in the deeper layers.
In a dry early summer the grain yields could only be significantly increased by sprinkler irrigation and the yields of maize (for ensilage) significantly by Agrosil. In the second year with sufficient natural rainfall the treatment had no influence.
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