IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL STRUCTURE IN SOME SOILS OF EGYPT

Abstract

A comparative investigation was conducted to study the effect of applying some Natural Soil conditioners (Filter mud and sugar lime) individually on soil structure and the yield of two plants - wheat and Maize.

To achieve the objectives of this investigation two field experiments were carried out during 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 in lsmalia experimental station where the texture class is sandy, and EI­ Gemiza experimental station EI-Gharbia Governorate) where the texture class is clay A complete randomized block design with four treatments (0.0, 2.1, 4.2 and 8.4 ton/fed.) and three replicates was used.

The obtained results could be summarized as follows:

1- Physical properties:

1- Bulk density

Soil bulk density values were decreased under all treatments in the four seasons and its values were decreased with increasing the application rates of any of the two materials (F. M or S.L) where reached the maximum value at 8.4 ton/fed. compared to control in the both two soils. The data also show that the effect of the two materials are more pronounced in the surface soil. This is because the materials were incorporated in the top surface soil.