Objective Effects of applying straws, straw-compost, and a soil-modifier on physicochemical properties of the planting soil and plant growth of tobacco were analyzed.
Method An experiment was conducted in pots of tobacco-planting field soil with a blank control (CK) or the addition of raw straws (S), straw-and-cow manure-compost (SCC), straw-and-rapeseed cake-compost (SRC), a mixture of bentonite and polyacrylamide (BP), S+BP, SCC+BP, or SRC+BP. Soil physicochemical properties and tobacco plant growth were monitored.
Result A significant synergistic effect of the combined applications of straws or composts with BP was observed. The combinations significantly increased the macroaggregates proportion and mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates of the soil, with the greatest MWD increase of 22.22% found in all cases of treatments with BP, which simultaneously optimized the soil porosity, water holding capacity, and bulk density. Among the various combinations, SRC+BP most significantly improved the soil physical structure, raised the pH, and heightened the electrical conductivity resulting in enhanced tobacco leaf yield and quality.
Conclusion By adding the soil-modifier to straws or composts in soil, soil structure could be synergistically improved. Specifically, SRC+BP displayed a superb effectiveness in increasing the soil porosity and water-holding capacity, and S+BP in balancing the soil fertility.
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