Effect of composted materials on soil properties, nutritional status and yield of cucumber plants

Abstract

To evaluate some composted materials under plastic house conditions, 2.5 and 5Kg/m² of different composted materials prepared under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were applied to heavy alluvial soil. Chicken feathers and different vegetable residues were used as raw organic materials and their effects on soil and cucumber plants were compared mineral fertilizers. Obtained data reveal of that application of 2.5Kg/m² of both two types of composted feather materials slightly increased pH-values while application of 2% of such materials increased total soluble salts and iron and manganese. Application of different levels of composted feather materials increased dry weight and content of some macro- and micro nutrients in cucumber plants at two growth stages in comparison with application of composted vegetable residues(tomato + marrow + artichoke) or mineral fertilizers. Application of 5Kg/m² of aerobic or anaerobic composted feather resulted in slight increase in the number and weight of fruits pest plant in comparison with the other composted materials.