Abstract
The low fertility in soils where date palms are grown in Morocco is the first cause leading to low yields when compared to other producing countries. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of organic amendment on mineral nutrition and yield of Majhoul date palm cultivar under Moroccan oasis conditions in relation with soil fertility. A field study was carried out for 2 years at two farms located at different sites in Drâa-Tafilalet region (Jorf and Tinjdad). The effect of different fertilization treatments on soil organic matter mineralization, soil mineral nutrients, plant nutrition, and date palm yield was investigated. The four treatments that were studied in this experiment are described as follows: mineral nitrogen (urea), organic amendment (compost), organic amendment combined with mineral nitrogen, and control with no fertilization. The compost, alone or combined with urea, enhanced the soil fertility through the improvement of the soil organic matter content and its mineralization and the increase in soil macro- and microelement concentrations at two depths compared to the urea alone and the control. The mineral nutrition of date palms was significantly enhanced by applying compost and/or urea. The application of compost combined with urea, for 2 years, increased the yield at Jorf farm by more than 78% and at Tinjdad farm by 41%. The adoption of the fertilization management, based on the application of both compost and urea, could restore the degraded soils, increase the date palm yield, and ensure more returns to farmers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Razzak H, Alkoaik F, Rashwan M, Fulleros R, Ibrahim M (2019) Tomato waste compost as an alternative substrate to peat moss for the production of vegetable seedlings. J Plant Nutr 42:287–295. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2018.1554682
Abdou G, Ewusi-Mensah N, Nouri M, Tetteh FM, Safo EY, Abaidoo RC (2016) Nutrient release patterns of compost and its implication on crop yield under Sahelian conditions of Niger. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 105:117–128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-016-9779-9
Agegnehu G, Bass AM, Nelson PN, Bird MI (2016) Benefits of biochar, compost and biochar–compost for soil quality, maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions in a tropical agricultural soil. Sci Total Environ 543:295–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.054
Alam SM, Naqvi SSM, Ansari RA (1999) Impact of soil pH on nutrient uptake by crop plants. In: Handbook of plant and crop stress, vol 2, pp 51–60 New York
Amin MEMH (2011) Effect of different nitrogen sources on growth, yield and quality of fodder maize (zea mays L.). J Saudi Soc Agric Sci 10:17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2010.06.003
AOAC (1995) Official methods of analysis 16th edn Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC
Aşkın T, Aygün S (2018) Does hazelnut husk compost (HHC) effect on soil water holding capacity (WHC)? An environmental approach. Eurasian J Soil Sci 7:87–92
Barje F, Meddich A, El Hajjouji H, El Asli A, Ait Baddi G, El Faiz A, Hafidi M (2016) Growth of date palm (phoenix dactylifera L.) in composts of olive oil mill waste with organic household refuse. Compost Sci Util 24:273–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2016.1171738
Bentaleb A (2015) Oasis vulnerability: valuation and territorial development in arid Moroccan areas. Oases middle Drââ. Halshs-01741493
Bingham FT (1982) Methods of soil analysis, part 2: chemical and mineralogical properties, boron. Amer Soc Agron, Madison, pp 431–448
Bogoni M, Panont A, Valenti L, Scienza A (1993) Effects of soil physical and chemical conditions on grapevine nutritional status. Mineral nutrition of deciduous fruit plants. Acta Hortic 383:299–312. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.383.31
Chalwe HM, Lungu OI, Mweetwa AM, Phiri E, Njoroge SMC, Brandenburg RL, Jordan DL (2019) Effects of compost manure on soil microbial respiration, plant-available-water, peanut (arachis hypogaea L.) yield and pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination. Peanut Sci 46:42–49. https://doi.org/10.3146/PS18-6.1
Chapman HD, Pratt PF (1961) Methods of analysis for soils, plants and water. Univ California, Berkeley
Chehab H, Tekaya M, Ouhibi M, Gouiaa M, Zakhama H, Mahjoub Z, Mechri B (2019) Effects of compost, olive mill wastewater and legume cover crops on soil characteristics, tree performance and oil quality of olive trees cv. chemlali grown under organic farming system. Sci Hortic 253:163–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.04.039
Choi WJ, Jin SA, Lee SM, Ro HM, Yoo SH (2001) Corn uptake and microbial immobilization of 15N-labeled urea-N in soil as affected by composted pig manure. Plant Soil 235:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011896912888
Clark RB, Baligar VC (2000) Acidic and alkaline soil constraints on plant mineral nutrition. Plant Environment Interact, Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, pp 133–177
Cogger CG (2005) Potential compost benefits for restoration of soils disturbed by urban development. Compost sci Util 13:243–251. https://doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2005.10702248
D’Hose T, Cougnon M, De Vliegher A, Vandecasteele B, Viaene N, Cornelis W, Reheul D (2014) The positive relationship between soil quality and crop production: a case study on the effect of farm compost application. Appl Soil Ecol 75:189–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2013.11.013
Diacono M, Montemurro F (2011) Long-term effects of organic amendments on soil fertility. In: Lichtfouse E, Hamelin M, Navarrete M, Debaeke P (eds) Sustain Agric, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 761–786. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0394-0_34
Diacono M, Montemurro F (2019) Olive pomace compost in organic emmer crop: yield, soil properties, and heavy metals’ fate in plant and soil. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 19:63–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-0010-3
Doan TT, Henry-des-Tureaux T, Rumpel C, Janeau JL, Jouquet P (2015) Impact of compost, vermicompost and biochar on soil fertility, maize yield and soil erosion in northern Vietnam: a three year mesocosm experiment. Sci Total Environ 514:147–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.005
Donn S, Wheatley RE, McKenzie BM, Loades KW, Hallett PD (2014) Improved soil fertility from compost amendment increases root growth and reinforcement of surface soil on slopes. Ecol Eng 71:458–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.066
Duran BE, Duncan DS, Oates LG, Kucharik CJ, Jackson RD (2016) Nitrogen fertilization effects on productivity and nitrogen loss in three grass-based perennial bioenergy cropping systems. PLoS One 11:e0151919. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151919
El Kinany S, Achbani E, Faggroud M, Ouahmane L, El Hilali R, Haggoud A, Bouamri R (2019) Effect of organic fertilizer and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of micropropagated date palm cv. Feggouss J Saudi Soc Agric Sci 18:411–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2018.01.004
Elsadig EH, Aljuburi HJ, Elamin AHB, Gafar MO (2017) Impact of organic manure and combination of NPKS, on yield, fruit quality and fruit mineral content of Khenazi date palm (phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivar. J Sci Agric 1:335–346. https://doi.org/10.25081/jsa.2017.v1.848
El-Sayed MA, Abbas SA, El-Hameed MMA, El-Naggar HM (2019) Effect of using plant compost and EM as partial replacement of inorganic N fertilizer on fruiting of barhy date palms. N Y Sci J 12:16–27. https://doi.org/10.7537/marsnys120219.03
Estefan G, Sommer R, Ryan J (2013) Methods of soil, plant, and water analysis. A manual for the West Asia and North Africa region ICARDA 3:170–176 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/7512
Falcetti M, Stringari G, Bogoni M, Scienza A (1993) Relationships among pedo-climatic conditions, plant available water and nutritional status of grapevines. Mineral nutrition of deciduous fruit plants. Acta Hortic 383:289–298. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.383.30
FAO (2018) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/faostat/fr/#data/QC
Fatima G, Wiehle M, Khan IA, Khan AA, Buerkert A (2017) Effects of soil characteristics and date palm morphological diversity on nutritional composition of pakistani dates. Exp Agric 53:321–338. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479716000399
Fauci MF, Dick RP (1994) Soil microbial dynamics: short-and long-term effects of inorganic and organic nitrogen. Soil Sci Soc Am J 58:801–806. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800030023x
Fernández-Hernández A, Roig A, Serramiá N, Civantos CGO, Sánchez-Monedero MA (2014) Application of compost of two-phase olive mill waste on olive grove: effects on soil, olive fruit and olive oil quality. Waste Manag 34:1139–1147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.03.027
Glab T, Żabiński A, Sadowska U, Gondek K, Kopeć M, Mierzwa-Hersztek M, Tabor S (2018) Effects of co-composted maize, sewage sludge, and biochar mixtures on hydrological and physical qualities of sandy soil. Geoderma 315:27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.11.034
Groffman PM, Eagan P, Sullivan WM, Lemunyon JL (1996) Grass species and soil type effects on microbial biomass and activity. Plant Soil 183:61–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185565
Hadas A, Kautsky L, Portnoy R (1996) Mineralization of composted manure and microbial dynamics in soil as affected by long-term nitrogen management. Soil Biol Biochem 28:733–738. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(95)00179-4
Harrison R, Xue D, Henry C, Cole DW (1994) Long-term effects of heavy applications of biosolids on organic matter and nutrient content of a coarse-textured forest soil. For Ecol Manag 66:165–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(94)90155-4
Jackson ML (1958) Boron determination for soil and plant tissues. In: Soil Chemical Analysis. Constable Ltd. Co., London, pp 370–387
Lee SB, Lee CH, Jung KY, Do Park K, Lee D, Kim PJ (2009) Changes of soil organic carbon and its fractions in relation to soil physical properties in a long-term fertilized paddy. Soil Till Res 104:227–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2009.02.007
Liu Y, Zang H, Ge T, Bai J, Lu S, Zhou P, Guggenberger G (2018) Intensive fertilization (N, P, K, Ca, and S) decreases organic matter decomposition in paddy soil. Appl Soil Ecol 127:51–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.02.012
Marzouk HA, Kassem HA (2011) Improving fruit quality, nutritional value and yield of Zaghloul dates by the application of organic and/or mineral fertilizers. Sci Hortic 127:249–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2010.10.005
Minister of agriculture, marine fisheries, rural development and water and forests (MAMF) (2014) Strategic directives for the phoenicultural sector. Morocco, http://www.agriculture.gov.ma/pages/veille/directives-strategiques-pour-la-filiere-phoenicicole
Mohamed OZ, Yassine B, El Hassan A, Abdellatif H, Rachid B (2020) Evaluation of compost quality and bioprotection potential against fusarium wilt of date palm. Waste Manag 113:12–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.05.035
Mohamedelnour A, Taşkin MB, Elamin EA (2019) Influence of composted mesquite on growth, yield, nutrients content of maize (zea mays L.) and some soil properties in Sudan. Int J Agric Pol Res 7:41–47. https://doi.org/10.15739/IJAPR.19.005
Ouédraogo E, Mando A, Zombré NP (2001) Use of compost to improve soil properties and crop productivity under low input agricultural system in West Africa. Agric Ecosyst Environ 84:259–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(00)00246-2
Özenc N, Caliskan N (2000) Effects of husk compost on hazelnut yield and quality. Acta Hortic 556:559–566. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.556.81
Pedra F, Polo A, Ribeiro A, Domingues H (2007) Effects of municipal solid waste compost and sewage sludge on mineralization of soil organic matter. Soil Biol Biochem 39:1375–1382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.12.014
Rayment GE, Higginson FR (1992) Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods. In: Australian soil and land survey handbook. Inkata Press, Melbourne
Sarker JR, Singh BP, Dougherty WJ, Fang Y, Badgery W, Hoyle FC, Cowie AL (2018) Impact of agricultural management practices on the nutrient supply potential of soil organic matter under long-term farming systems. Soil Till Res 175:71–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2017.08.005
Sedra MH (2015) Date palm status and perspective in Morocco. In: Al-Khayri J, Jain S, Johnson D (eds) Date palm genetic resources and utilization. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 257–323. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9694-1_8
Tejada M, Hernandez MT, Garcia C (2009) Soil restoration using composted plant residues: effects on soil properties. Soil Till Res 102:109–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2008.08.004
Tuncturk M, Yildirim B (2004) Effects of different forms and doses of nitrogen fertilizers on safflower (carthamus tinctorius L.). Pak J Biol Sci 7:1385–1389
Wakil W, Faleiro JR, Miller TA (eds) (2015) Sustainable pest management in date palm: current status and emerging challenges. Springer, p 429. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24397-9
Walkley A, Black CA (1934) Estimation of organic carbon by chromic acid and titration method. Soil Sci 37:28–29
Wei W, Yan Y, Cao J, Christie P, Zhang F, Fan M (2016) Effects of combined application of organic amendments and fertilizers on crop yield and soil organic matter: an integrated analysis of long-term experiments. Agric Ecosyst Environ 225:86–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.04.004
Xiang SR, Doyle A, Holden PA, Schimel JP (2008) Drying and rewetting effects on C and N mineralization and microbial activity in surface and subsurface California grassland soils. Soil Biol Biochem 40:2281–2289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.05.004
Zaman M, Di HJ, Sakamoto K, Goto S, Hayashi H, Inubushi K (2002) Effects of sewage sludge compost and chemical fertilizer application on microbial biomass and N mineralization rates. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 48:195–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2002.10409191
Zhang X, Wang H, Hui X, Wang Z, Liu J (2019) Effects of different fertilization and fallowing practices on soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization in a dry land soil with low organic matter. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 19:108–116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-0016-x
Zhao J, Ni T, Li J, Lu Q, Fang Z, Huang Q, Shen Q (2016) Effects of organic–inorganic compound fertilizer with reduced chemical fertilizer application on crop yields, soil biological activity and bacterial community structure in a rice–wheat cropping system. Appl Soil Ecol 99:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.11.006
Zingore S, Mafongoya P, Nyamugafata P, Giller KE (2003) Nitrogen mineralization and maize yields following application of tree prunings to a sandy soil in Zimbabwe. Agrofor Syst 57:199–211. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024887225450
Funding
This work was partly supported by the R4D project “Application of organic bio-fertilizer technology to improve the sustainability of date palm production and cultivation” with the grand number IZ07Z0_160904 funded by the R4D program, the Swiss Program for Research on Global Issues for Development, a partnership of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Swiss National Science Foundation. The first author wishes to acknowledge the Moroccan CNRST “Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique” for a scholarship grant.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ou-Zine, M., Symanczik, S., Rachidi, F. et al. Effect of Organic Amendment on Soil Fertility, Mineral Nutrition, and Yield of Majhoul Date Palm Cultivar in Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 21, 1745–1758 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00476-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00476-2