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Saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils in the presence of vermicast

A B

C D

Figure 3. Relative increase and decrease in Ks of loam and sandy loam soils: 5 t/ha (A), 10 t/ha (B), 15 t/ha
(C), and 20 t/ha (D)

found that the moisture retention capacity of soil is effectively illustrates the substantial influence of
influenced by the size of the organic matter. Demir vermicast size fractions and textural classes on the
and Doğan and Liu et al. also reported that the Ks of saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils by utilizing
2
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soil are influenced by the amount and types of organic only two textural classes and four distinct vermicast
materials. However, maximum relative Ks in loam fractions, thereby providing insights into addressing the
soils incorporated with raw vermicast was found when limitations of sample variations in this investigation.
the incorporation rates were set at 15 t/ha and 20 t/ha, This study also deduced that the raw and the largest
consistent with the findings of Yılmaz and Alagöz size fractions of vermicast increase the Ks at relatively
36
that the water-holding capacity of soils increased as the higher doses regardless of the dose applied. This
organic materials in soils increased. Relative to control, finding will play an important role in paving the way
15 t/ha and 20 t/ha of raw cast incorporation resulted for future research on the movement and storage of
in 74.42% and 88.37% higher Ks, respectively. The water and the transfer and control of nutrient elements
phenomenon behind greater Ks due to adding raw cast using different-sized fractions of vermicast, especially
at higher doses could be attributed to the high number the application and dose/response relation of
of residual pores facilitating a greater water flow by
gravity. nanofertilizers. The results of this investigation clearly
indicate that marginal farmers should utilize specific
4. Conclusion vermicast size fractions while avoiding excessive
applications of very costly organic fertilizers. The
The Ks of soils determine the water holding capacity, ultimate purpose of adopting this approach should
infiltration rate, accessibility of plants for water intake, be based on the water-holding capacity and organic
and the movement of nutrients and pollutants in soil, matter content of soils, necessitating planning for the
thereby determining the capability of the soils to serve application and treatment of site-specific vermicast
the ecosystem. As the incorporation of vermicompost and organic fertilizer.
into the soil is one of the most significant approaches
to improving soil’s physical, chemical, and biological Acknowledgments
conditions, it is of utmost importance to evaluate the
effect of appropriate size fractions of vermicast on The authors acknowledge the laboratory support of the
such soil physical properties like Ks. This experiment Department of Soil Science, University of Chittagong.

Volume 22 Issue 1 (2025) 119 doi: 10.36922/ajwep.7526