Changes in Soil Quality by Compost and Hazelnut Husk Applications in a Hazelnut Orchard

Abstract

In this study, changes in some soil quality indexes in a hazelnut orchard located in the Black Sea Region of Turkey were investigated after 6 months of compost (CMP) and hazelnut husk (HH) applications. CMP and HH applications increased soil organic carbon (OC) content from 1.40% to 2.57 and 3.51%, and electrical conductivity from 0.06 dS m(-1) to 0.20 and 0.91 dS m(-1), respectively (P < 0.01). In comparison to control treatment, CMP and HH applications increased the sum of exchangeable cations by 31 and 37%, aggregate stability by 2 and 7%, initial infiltration rate by 34 and 436%, and reduced bulk density by 20 and 33%, penetration resistance by 33 and 67%, respectively (P < 0.01). Physical and chemical soil quality parameters were improved using both HH and CMP in the hazelnut orchard. Although both organic matter sources were effective on quality of clay soil, slow mineralization rate of HH in soil due to including the highest C:N ratio (55%) caused greater effects of HH on soil quality indexes than that of CMP (having 22% C:N ratio) after 6 months of application.