Evaluation of Vermicompost and Zeolite Ability to Improve Water and Nutrients Retention in A Sandy Soil تقییم قدرة الفیرمیکومبوست والزیولیت على تحسین الاحتفاظ بالمیاه والمغذیات فى أرض رملیة

Abstract

Improving water retention and nutrients in sandy soils is crucial for agricultural productivity under water shortage. Vermicompost (V) and Zeolite (Z) were applied to soil as alone or mixture to quantify their effect on sandy soil properties, physiological efficiency of nutrients and water use efficiency of cultivated wheat under three levels of moisture content (100, 80 and 60% from filed capacity) for 60 days in pot experiment. Treatments of vermicompost and zeolite were control-,1 and 2% as alone and 0.5%V+0.5%Z ,0.5%V+1%Z, 1%V+0.5%Z and1%Z+1%V as combined. The mixture of 1% Z+0.5% V had higher fresh and dry weights of wheat, macro nutrients content and uptake by wheat under all levels of moisture content as compared to other treatments. The WUE and Physiological efficiency of NP and K increased significantly by increasing the rates of zeolite and vermicompost either alone or mixture, especially at the lowest moisture content of field capacity. Soil porosity, bulk density, and the availability of soil macronutrients and water were associated by applications of zeolite and vermicompost. So, the synergistic effect of zeolite and vermicompost that carried out during the period of experiment on soil properties and nutrients uptake clearly occurred. Hence these results are enhancing plant growth under water shortage which can be used to improve, cultivate new areas and to enhance water use efficiency of wheat plant.