Effect Irrigation Quality and Mineral Fertilization on Barley Productivity (Variety 244) and Some Nutrients Availability

An experiment was conducted in fields of Agricultural Research office/Al-Dibuni Research Station in Clay Loam soil, to study the coexistence with irrigation salinity using different water qualities with a recommended mineral fertilizer by the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture, and evaluate the role of this fertilizer in maintaining the nutritional balance in soil and barley productivity. A Factorial Experiment Design was used According to RCBD design. The results showed that mineral fertilization of 100% fertilizer recommendation was significantly superior in all measured characteristics (nitrogen and phosphorus availability in soil, EC, plant height, leaf area, number of branches, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index) which gave (46.31, 27.29 mg kg−1, 5.59 dSm−1, 67.44 cm, 20.41 cm2plant−1, 7.66 branch plant−1, 44.08g, 3.16, 11.19 Mg ha−1, and 28.24%, respectively) compared with control treatment. The addition of irrigation different types affected on the measured characteristics, as the S1 treatment gave a significant values in each of (nitrogen and phosphorus availability in soil, EC, leaf area, number of branches, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index) which gave (40.27, 23.39 mg kg−1, 5.10 dSm−1, 16.97 cm2plant−1, 6.91 branch plant−1, 40.31 g, 3.02, 10.13 Mgha−1, and 29.98%) compared with S2 treatment. The results showed the double interaction F4S3 treatment had a significant effect in all the measured characteristics(nitrogen and phosphorus availability in soil, leaf area, number of branches, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index) which gave (48.61 and 28.97mg kg−1 and 20. 92 cm2plant−1, 8.06 branch plant−1, 45.75g, 3.22, 11.47 Mgha−1, and 28.07%, respectively) compared with F1S2 treatment, noting F4S3 treatment did not significantly of F4S1 treatment.

Co-application of wood biochar and paper mill biosolids affects yield and short-term nitrogen and phosphorus availability in temperate loamy soils

Amending croplands with forest residues may help in restoring soil properties in fields subject to intensive land management. Despite their known benefits when applied separately, co-application of wood biochar with paper mill biosolids (PB) has seen little investigation under field conditions. A study was initiated in Québec, QC, Canada, to determine the effect of a single application of wood biochar with and without PB on the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability of two pH-neutral to alkaline loamy soils. Biochar at 0, 10, and 20 Mg dry weight·ha−1 and PB at 30 Mg wet weight·ha−1 were applied before planting of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in 2018. Residual effect of this co-application was determined under soybean and corn in the subsequent year. In both years, corn received supplemental N and P from mineral fertilizers according to local agronomic recommendations. Co-applying biochar and PB reduced soil NO3-N availability in the year of application and decreased corn yield by 1.0 Mg·ha−1 compared with biochar or PB applied alone, but these amendments did not affect soybean yields. In the following year, the previous biochar addition increased soybean yield by 0.6 Mg·ha−1 but had little effect on corn. For both years, biochar addition induced a large increase in soil Mehlich-3 P. This study revealed that wood biochar positively impacted P status of these soils but was not a source of N to crops even when co-applied with PB.