Determination of the Effect of Different Organic Fertilizers Applications on Soil Quality Using the SMAF Model

Abstract

Soil is an essential resource for terrestrial life. That’s why it is vital to use it without causing any harm to its ecological and economic functions. This current study was carried out to investigate the effect of different organic materials (farmyard manure, vermicompost, leonardite, rose pulp, biochar, biogas waste, seaweed) on soil quality using the SMAF model in Isparta province, which has a semi-arid ecological characteristic. Thirteen soil quality indicators were used to determine the physical, chemical, and biological soil quality of the SMAF model. In this study, twelve indicators were used, which were: bulk density, aggregate stability, available water content, water-filled pore space, organic carbon, pH, electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, available potassium and phosphorus, microbial biomass carbon, and ßeta-Glucosidase enzyme activity. In general, the applied organic wastes had a positive effect on the quality characteristics of the soils. The lowest quality was determined in the control (50%) and seaweed (51%) applications, while the highest quality increase was determined in the rose pulp application (60%) and vermicompost application (56%). Other applications did not cause significant changes according to SMAF scoring. The most important effects of low quality scores were determined as biological quality indicators. According to the results obtained, organic waste application for sustainable soil management has an important place in increasing the physical, chemical, and biological soil quality properties of agricultural soils, especially in the arid and semi-arid areas of our country, as well as increasing the general soil quality index values.