Effect of organic materials on yields and nutrient accumulation of wheat

This experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using a sandy clay loam treated with garbage and mushroom composts, cattle and chicken manures, or municipal sludge at rates of 0, 30, or 60 ton ha-1. The organic materials were applied to the pots and incubated for 15 d. The soil samples were watered at field capacity. In this experiment, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was used as a test crop. At the end of the experiment, it was found that treating sandy clay loam with the organic materials increased plant total and grain yields, protein content, 1000-kernel weight, number of grains in spike, and accumulation of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) by wheat compared with the control treatment, depending on the organic material applications. Thus, the increases were found to be statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). Among the types of organic materials, the sewage sludge was the most effective material in increasing N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Mn content of leaf, grain, and stem samples of the wheat plant. It was followed by mushroom compost and cattle manure. Based on the results, sewage sludge and garbage compost are suggested for use as an amendment for the soil studied. Comparing the beneficial effects of the organic materials applied for improving plant growth and nutrient accumulation, the materials can be arranged in the following descending order: municipal sludge > chicken manure > cattle manure > garbage compost > mushroom compost. It is suggested that recycling of organic materials for agricultural usage as an organic-matter resource is an alternative, organic fertilization option in Turkey. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.