Helal Gayerly(1) Samer Bregle(1) Muhamad Manhal Al Zubi*(1) Yahya Ramadan(2) Khaled Al Shebli(2) Amira Al Hafez(2) and Mayada Fattoum(2)
(1). Natural Resources Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Agricultural Research Center in Al Raqqa, GCSAR, Al Raqqa, Syria.
(*Corresponding author:Dr. Muhamad Manhal Al Zubi, Natural Resources Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. E-Mail: manhalzo@yahoo.com. Mobile phone: 00963933334783, Fax: 00963112121460).
Received: 15/03/ 2015 Accepted: 06/05/ 2015
Abstract:
This study aimed to determine the impact of Syrian Zeolite on some soil properties and productivity of wheat and cotton crops, which is planted in the gypsum soil at Beer Alhashem Research Station, Al-Raqa Agricultural Research Center, General commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Syria, begins from 2006 to 2010 seasons. Completely randomized block design was used with three replicates. The addition rates of zeolite were: (ZEO1) at a rate of 90 m3/ha, (ZEO2) at a rate of 180 m3/ha, (ZEO3) at a rate of 270 m3/ha, (ZEO4) at a rate of 360 m3/ha, (ZEO5) at a rate of 450 m3/ha, and control without zeolite. Wheat variety (Bouhoth 6), and cotton variety (Raqaa5) were cultivated in a cropping rotation. The fertilizers were added according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MOAAR) recommendations. Soil, and zeolite were analyzed before cultivation. The results showed significant increment in the productivity of cotton with the increase in adding zeolite in third season (ZEO5treatment, which produced 2.42 ton/ha), also in the fourth season (ZEO3, and ZEO4treatments, which produced 3.23and 3.08 ton/ha, respectively). The results also clarified in wheat experiment, that ZEO1treatment gave the best production as compared with other treatments in all seasons (3.5, 4.57, 5.4, 2.79 ton grains/ha, respectively). The increase in wheat productivity was noticed in all zeolite treatments as compared with control in most seasons, and the addition of zeolite 90 m3/ha in wheat experiment was the best as compared with the other zeolite treatments, but the productivity of ZEO5treatment was less as compared with other zeolite treatments. It was noticed a significant increment in mineral nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium with the addition of zeolite in the soil after harvesting.
Keywords: Zeolite, Soil fertility, Gypsum lands, Wheat, Cotton.
Full paper in Arabic: تأثير خام الزيوليت الطبيعي السوري على إتاحة بعض العناصر المغذية في التربة وعلى إنتاجية محصولي القمح والقطن في الأراضي الجبسية