RESEARCH ON THE CHANGES IN SOIL ANALYSIS DEPENDING ON DIFFERENTIAL ORGANO-MINERAL FERTILIZATION APPLIED TO MAIZE CULTIVATED IN THE BURNAS PLAIN

Abstract

A two-factor field experiment was carried out in 2024 on the chernozem soil of the Burnas Plain, Teleorman County, under irrigated conditions, to evaluate the impact of differentiated organo-mineral fertilization on soil properties and maize performance. The experiment was conducted at the S.C. MILAGRO ANG S.R.L. farm in Sfințești, using six maize hybrids (MAS DM 5332, GIRO, P 0450, P 0710, DKC 5810, and DKC 5709) and five fertilization treatments: unfertilized control (M), organic fertilization with 40 t ha⁻¹ poultry manure (O), organic + mineral fertilization with 20 t ha⁻¹ poultry manure + 111 kg ha⁻¹ NPK 20:20:0 (O + NPK), mineral fertilization with 222 kg ha⁻¹ NPK 20:20:0 (NPK), and urea fertilization at 310 kg ha⁻¹ (U).
Soil samples were collected before fertilization and after harvest to determine pH, humus, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium, zinc, copper, and magnesium. The results indicated that poultry manure significantly increased soil humus content and nutrient availability, especially when combined with mineral fertilizers. The organic + NPK treatment recorded the highest improvement in humus content (2.48% in the 0 - 20 cm layer) and enhanced levels of available phosphorus and potassium compared to the control.
The findings highlight that balanced organo-mineral fertilization can improve soil fertility, sustain maize productivity, and contribute to sustainable nutrient management on chernozem soils in southern Romania.