THE EFFECT OF AMENDMENT AND FERTILIZATION ON SOME CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOIL

Abstract

The paper presents the results obtained from the long-term experimental field within Agricultural Research Station Livada. The experience included 6 variants in which manure, amendments (CaCO3) and mineral fertilization with NPK were applied. The soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-20 cm after 5 years from the application of manure. By applying CaCO3 0.5t/ha/year the pH was maintained at the value of 6.0 and with 0.7 t/ha/year the pH value was maintained at 7.0. The amendment potential of the manure that was applied in a dose of 20 t/ha determined an increase in pH from 4.56 to 5.28 after 55 years of application. Long-term fertilization with 20 manure + N100P70K60 increased the level of soil total nitrogen supply from low to medium. Fertilization with manure + N100P70K60 led to high accumulations (highly significant compared to fertilization with manure alone) of phosphorus, accumulations stimulated in the amended varieties.
Amending acidic soils with limestone (calcium carbonate) and proper fertilization are essential for maintaining and improving soil quality.