Comparison of aggregate stability of Gaziantep pistachio, grain and pasture soils

Soil aggregates are soil clusters formed as a result of the combination of soil organic matter, clay particles and polyvalent cations such as Ca2+, Al3+ and Fe3+ and accepted as the basic soil structure unit. Aggregate stability, which is an indicator of the quality and fertility of soils, is considered an expression of soil resistance against mechanical destructive forces and is under the influence of many internal and external factors. Understanding the effects of agricultural activities such as tillage, irrigation and fertilization on aggregate stability is important in meeting the food needs of the increasing world population. In this study, totally 60 soil samples (0-20 cm), 20 of which are from pistachio orchards, 20 from wheat fields and 20 from pasture lands, were taken in Araban District, which is an important agricultural production center in Gaziantep. In addition to EC, salt, pH, lime, Corg and Ntot and soil texture analyzes, aggregate stability (AS) were also analysed in soil samples. The highest AS was detected in the pistachio orchards and the lowest AS was found in the wheat fields. In the meantime, significant relationships were found between AS and land use, lime texture and Ntot contents. As a result, it was found that due to agricultural activities AS level in wheat fields and pistachio orchards are lower than pasture lands. In addition, it has been determined that land use was significantly related to all other parameters of the soil except Corg / Ntot. It is thougt that the practices for preserving aggregate stability could lead to an increase in agricultural production and productivity.