Studying the Efficacy of Some Organic Compounds as a Source of Potassium Fertilization and their Effect on the Wheat-Peanut Crop System in Sandy Soil

Abstract

To encourage sustainable agriculture and increase net revenue for the agricultural community, the use of expensive chemical fertilizers should be reduced and replaced with locally produced organic byproducts. For this reason, a field experiment was conducted on sand soil at Ismailia Agric. Res. Station in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, to evaluate the impact of various organic K rates 0, 50%, 75%, and 100% from the recommended plant dose) and three different K organic sources i.e., seaweed (SWE), yeast sludge (YS), and filter mud cake (FMC), in two successive seasons of wheat (Triticum sativac. v. Giza 168) as a winter crop and peanut (Arachis hypogaeac. v. Giza 6) as a summer crop season; to study how responsive they are to different potassium rates and sources applied to crop productivity. After both crops were harvested, the chemical features of the soil were also assessed. The current findings state that the use of varied organic K rates and sources boosted the yield components of wheat and peanut crops, as well as the nutritional total content in straw, grains, or seed of both wheat and peanut, as compared to the control treatment.  Furthermore, the application of all treatments improved pH, EC, OM, and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC); the availability of P, K, and soluble K followed a similar pattern after the wheat-peanut crop was harvested.  Furthermore, the highest increases resulted from 75% of the recommended K dose, and the best organic sources of K were YS and SWE for wheat and peanut, respectively. In conclusion, the use of tested organic potassium sources is a good alternative to mineral potassium fertilizers, is economical, which is reflected in crop yield, and is environmentally friendly.