Impact of Organic Amendments (Dromedary Droppings and Cow Dung) on the Physico-chemical Properties of Three Arid Soils and their Water-holding Capacity

Abstract

Soils come from the arid region of Hadjer-Lamis (13°00′00″ N; 15°44′00″ E). Samples were taken in March 2025 at a depth of 0 to 20 cm. At the same time, dromedary droppings and cow dung were collected. The physicochemical characterization of the soils from Dandi, Karal, and Mani was carried out at the Soil, Water, and Plant Laboratory (SWPL) in Chad. The granulometric analysis gives the following results: clay: Dandi (19.5%), Karal (17%), Mani (14%); silt: Dandi (17.5%), Karal (7.5%), Mani (7%); sand: Dandi (63%), Karal (75.5%), Mani (79%). These soils are sandy-loam, chemical analyses indicate, Dandi: MOT (0.655%), CT (0.38%), EC (335 µS/cm), PT (192 ppm), pH (7.64), KT (478.00 mg/kg), CEC (13.34 meq/100 g); Karal: MOT (0.617%), CT (0.358%), EC (687 µS/cm), PT (279 ppm), pH (6.28), KT (994.00 mg/kg), CEC (24.50 meq/100 g). Mani: MOT (0.519%), CT (0.301%), EC (183 µS/cm), KT (384 ppm), pH (6.26), CEC (11 meq/100 g). dromedary droppings: MO (5.20%), pH (7.30), NT (0.033%), potassium (39 mg/l), PA (151.97 mg/kg), Na (86.50 mg/l), EC (2960 µS/cm), Cu (9.60 mg/l), Ca (750 mg/l); cow dung: OM (190 mg/kg), pH (9.2), NT (16 mg/kg), potassium (1.1 cmol/kg), PA (18.2 mg/kg), Na (0.1 cmol/kg), EC (250 µS/cm), Cu (8.1 mg/l), Ca (5 cmol/kg). The application of these organic amendments improves structure, porosity, and organic matter in the soil.