The effect of natural zeolites and organic fertilisers on the characteristics of degraded soils and yield of crops grown in western Serbia

Abstract

Soils with unfavourable characteristics (pronounced acidity, disturbed structure, compaction, exhaustion, tiredness, etc.) cover a considerable area of Serbia. Specific crops, the fruit ones in particular, are being grown on these soils, yielding, however, considerably lower yields. The paper presents results of two-year studies on the effect of natural zeolites, organic fertiliser-cattle manure and mineral NPK fertiliser (15:15:15) on soil properties and fruit yield and fruit properties of strawberry and blackberry plants grown on shallow eroded vertisol. The results have shown that the chemical properties of the soil improved with the natural zeolite 'Agrozel' (1 kg m(-2)) + Manure (1 kg m(-2)) treatment-resulting in a 0-94-unit acidity decrease and a 0-58% humus content increase at a 0-20 cm soil depth. Positive but less pronounced changes were also detected at greater soil depths. The strawberry and blackberry cultivation in these soils using the above substances gave rise to a yield increase. In the second year of study, strawberry and blackberry yields increased by 13-15% and 6.27%, respectively. Basic chemical properties of strawberry and blackberry fruits (soluble solids and total acid contents) were not significantly affected by zeolite and organic fertiliser additions to the soil.