Effects of Different Agricultural Wastes on Some Soil Quality Indexes in Clay and Loamy Sand Fields

Abstract

Effects of manure (M), hazelnut husks (HH), tea waste (TEW), and tobacco wastes (TOW) on some soil quality indexes were monitored for more than 2 years in a clay field and a loamy sand field. While soil organic carbon (OC) contents were around 2% after 30 months in clay, they were generally less than 2% after 7 months in loamy sand. Organic wastes generally increased aggregate stability (AS) and field capacity and decreased bulk density (BD) of the soils. Soil pH decreased with TEW and increased with M treatment. Tobacco wastes exerted the greatest effect on AS, EC, and nitrate (NO3) nitrogen (N). Hazelnut husks and TEW had the greatest effect on soil respiration in clay and loamy sand soils, respectively. While BD and pH increased, the other indicators generally decreased between the first and the last sampling. Soil quality can be improved in coarse-textured soils using TEW and HH and in fine-textured soils using TEW and M.