Influence of Compost Tea and Potassium Humate on Soil Properties and Plant Growth

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during two seasons 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, cultivated with soybean, at farm Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two treatments (potassium humate and compost tea) at different rates of (0, 2, 4 and 6 ml/L water) with two application methods (soaking and foliar application) on soil fertility and soybean productivity. In both seasons, each experiment was carried out in randomized complete blocks design with four replicates. Data showed that the lowest value of soil pH 7.87 was obtained in the soil treated with foliar application of compost tea at 6 ml/L compared with other treatments. Also, the used of potassium Humate and compost tea foliar application was significant decrease of soil salinity (EC dSm-1), while soaking method was no significant for decrease soil salinity. The different rates of all treatments soaking method to soil gave significant increase of N and P available contents in soil while the foliar application was no significant. As well as, the K available in soil treated with all rates of treatments led to significant increase for soaking. The highest mean values of Fe, Mn and Zn contents in soil treated were with foliar application of compost tea. Compost tea soaking and foliar application increased soybean productivity. The highest values of all growth parameters plants i.e. (plant height (cm), No. of leaves/plant, No. of pods/plant, pods weight (g)/plant, seeds yield (ton/ha) and weight of 100 seed (g) were treated with potassium humate foliar application than all treatments.