CHARACTERISTICS OF CHERNOZEM SOIL IN A LONG TERM FIELD EXPERIMENT IN HUNGARY

Abstract

The polyfactorial long-term field experiment was conducted in 1983 on a calcareous chernozem soil in Hungary (Debrecen-Látókép experimental farm) to determine the long-term effect of different doses of chemical fertilizers and irrigation on the yield, nutrient uptake of maise (in monoculture production) and on soil parameters. Our aim was to analyse and compare the changes of soil chemical and microbiological caracteristics for 33 years NPK fertilizer application either in irrigated and or in non irrigated version. Soil pH, humus, nutrient content and some soil microbiological parameters were analyzed. The microbiological parameters sightly, the chemical parameters of soil significantly influenced by long term application of NPK fertilizers. In fertilized plots: the pH decreased, humus content increased. The availability of supplied nutrients, NPK improved, while non-supplied macronutrients, calcium and magnesium significantly decreased in fertilized plots compared to control. The significantly decrease in calcium content call attention, that the same effect in acidic sandy soil might be particularly harmful. In fertilized plots the number of bacteria tended to decrease, while the number of microscopic fungi and saccharase enzime activity significantly enhanced. The irrigation did not cause significant changes of measured microbiological parameters.

Keywords

• long-term field experiment
• chemical
• microbiological soil parameters