The effects of organic materials produced from different composting methods on some soil physical properties, organic carbon forms and yield of corn (Zea mays L.)

Organic matter is a very important characteristic in terms of soil quality and sustainability. The soils of Turkey are very insufficient with regard to organic matter content due to many reasons and it should be increased. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of vermicompost and compost materials on some soil physical properties, organic carbon forms and crop yield and some plant growth parameters of corn plant. For this purpose, the amounts of both materials causing 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% organic matter increases in the soil+NPK treatments, and pure control and fertilized control (NPK) applications were investigated in a two-year field trial in randomized blocks with divided plots in Haymana-Ankara conditions. According to the research findings, depending on the increasing doses of both materials, the physical properties of the soil such as water retention, aeration, hydraulic conductivity and aggregate stability and average mean weight diameter increased significantly, whereas the bulk density values decreased. Organic material applications also significantly increased the total organic carbon, particulate organic carbon and extractable carbon forms with potassium permanganate in the soil. Increasing doses of organic materials had a positive effect on crop yield and some growth parameters of silage maize. When the total plant fresh weight values are examined, it is seen that the doses were significant in both years, the lowest value in the first year was 3617.98 kg/da in the control application, and the highest value was 8570.24 kg/da at the dose of 1% vermicompost material. However the lowest value was 4244.52 kg/da in the control treatment and the highest value was 7763.33 kg/da at the dose of 1% compost material in the second year. When the relationships between the organic carbon forms in the soil and the fresh weight values, the highest relationship was determined in the microaggregate organic carbon. As we consider the crop yield and economic reasons, it has been seen that the use of compost is more appropriate than vermicompost. As the plant growth parameters were taken into consideration, 0.5% increase rate in organic matter content can be preferred in practice because there is no statistically significant differences between compost and vermicompost treatments corresponding to 0.5% and 1% increases in organic matter content.