Study of
the use of maize and water spinach in a biotest for evaluation of soil
fertility
Chamnanwit Promkot
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Study of
the use of maize and water spinach in a biotest for evaluation of soil
fertility
Chamnanwit Promkot |
Abstract
Nine
type of soils originated from different places in Cambodia were evaluated
by using a biotest with either maize (Zea mays) or water spinach (Ipomoea
aquatica) according to a 9x2
factorial arrangement with
four replica per treatment. The growth rate and biomass of plants were
correlated with the pH, dry matter and organic matter content of the soil. The soils were uncultivated soil, soil
under chicken cages, from either unfertilized or effluent fertilized
cassava stands, from a eucalyptus plantation, from Kompong Cham province,
from a rice field, and an uncultivated soil at the University Campus. There was significant interaction
(P<0.05) soil x plant type on the criteria under study. There were
significant differences (P< 0.05) when plant growth during 23 days was
used as criteria of soil fertility. Soil characteristics as evaluated by a
chemical approach were positively correlated to plant growth particularly
in maize. Plant growth response was significantly different (P<0.05)
when maize and water spinach parameters were compared. In both maize and
water spinach a positive curvilinear response of biomass weight to level
of organic matter of soils was found (R2 0.853 and 0.462
respectively). It is suggested that the use of a
simple biotest in the evaluation of soil fertility is a practical and
economical approach to on farm conditions in integrated farming systems.
The maize biotest was better suitable evaluation of soil fertility by the
biotest approach than water spinach. |
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Water spinach grow in soil from chicken pen 23 days |
Lay out of experimental unit |
Maize grow
in soil from |
