Effects of a soil conditioner on some physical and biological features of soils: results from a greenhouse study

Bioresour Technol. 2005 Nov;96(17):1950-4. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2005.01.025. Epub 2005 Mar 29.

Abstract

A soil amendment substance-organic bio-stimulator, Terralyt Plus (TP), was used to observe its impact on the properties of clay loam (CL), sandy clay loam (SCL) and sandy loam (SL) soils and the growth of corn (Zea mays indentata L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp./vulgare Vill. v. lutescens) under greenhouse conditions. The diluted TP solutions (1:500, 1:1000 and 1:2000) were sprayed onto the soil surfaces. The wheat growth increased for CL and SCL with the application of TP at 1:1000. The highest dry weights were detected with 1:500 TP and corn in all the soils. Penetration resistance of CL containing corn increased with increasing TP concentration. TP was also effective in improving the aggregate stability for CL but not for the other soils. Catalase enzyme activity (CEA), soil evolution (SE) and the total aerobic bacterial population (TABP) were significantly increased (P<0.05) by spraying TP at 1:1000 onto CL.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture / methods*
  • Agrochemicals
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Environment, Controlled
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Soil*
  • Triticum / growth & development
  • Zea mays / growth & development

Substances

  • Agrochemicals
  • Soil
  • Catalase