Page 129 - EER-2-1

Explora: Environment
and Resource Sustainable fertilization for long bean cultivation

Finally, the pod weight per plant was determined by (week 7) to evaluate the effects of the amendments on soil
weighing all harvested pods from each sample plant using compaction and aeration.
a digital balance. Harvesting was conducted 7 weeks after
transplantation when the pods reached full maturity. Pod 3. Results and discussion
weight, expressed in grams (g), represents the culmination 3.1. Soil characteristics and their transformation
of the plant’s growth and reproductive processes, offering a
comprehensive indicator of yield potential. By analyzing The podzolic soils used in this study were initially
30
these parameters, the study aimed to capture the full characterized by low fertility and high acidity, conditions
spectrum of plant responses to the integrated application of that pose significant challenges to sustainable crop
quail manure and natural phosphate fertilizers, providing production. These soils exhibited a pH of 5.2, low organic
robust evidence for the effectiveness of these sustainable matter content (1.25%), and high aluminum saturation
soil amendments. (40%), which limits the availability of essential nutrients
such as phosphorus. These properties are typical of
1
2.7. Data analysis tropical marginal soils and are often associated with poor
agricultural productivity due to their compact structure
The collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance and low capacity for nutrient retention. 3,24,32
(ANOVA) to determine the significance of the main and
interaction effects of quail manure and natural phosphate The application of quail manure significantly improved
fertilizers. ANOVA was chosen because it allows for the soil characteristics by increasing organic matter content
simultaneous comparison of multiple treatment groups (P < 0.01), as illustrated in Figure 1, which displays notable
and their interactions. Treatments with significant effects enhancements in organic matter percentage (P < 0.01),
(P < 0.05) were further analyzed using Duncan’s New phosphorus availability (P < 0.01), and reduced aluminum
Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at a 5% significance level saturation (P < 0.05). Organic matter plays a crucial role in
to identify specific differences between treatment means. improving soil aggregation, enhancing water infiltration,
DNMRT was selected for its ability to control type I errors and creating a more favorable environment for root growth.
while providing a clear comparison of treatment effects. In addition, as organic material decomposes, microbial
Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical activity is stimulated, leading to the mineralization of
33
Package for the Social Sciences software (version 25.0; IBM nitrogen into plant-available forms (NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁺).
Corp., USA). 31 This process not only increases nitrogen availability but
also enhances soil microbial diversity, accelerating the
2.8. Environmental and soil analysis breakdown of organic residues and further improving soil
Soil samples were collected before treatment application structure. 10,13 Moreover, the carbon-rich nature of quail
(week 0) and after harvesting (week 7) to assess the initial manure promotes soil aggregate stabilization, reducing
fertility status and the effects of the amendments. For each the risk of erosion, improving porosity, and enhancing
34
experimental plot, three subsamples were taken at a depth aeration. These improvements create a more stable and
of 0 – 20 cm and then composited into one representative resilient soil environment, ensuring optimal conditions for
sample per plot. This approach ensured a homogenous plant growth by facilitating root penetration, improving
representation of soil conditions across treatments. Soil nutrient exchange capacity, and maintaining sufficient
pH was measured in a 1:2.5 soil-water suspension using oxygen supply for root respiration. The combined effects
a pH meter (HI98128; Hanna Instruments, Romania). of these transformations highlight the vital role of organic
Organic matter content was determined using the amendments in improving the fertility and structure of
Walkley-Black method, while phosphorus availability degraded soils.
was quantified using the Bray-1 extraction method and a Natural phosphate fertilizer further improved soil
spectrophotometer (Shimadzu ultraviolet-1800; Shimadzu fertility by supplying a slow-release source of phosphorus,
Corp., Japan). Aluminum saturation was determined an essential nutrient often deficient in acidic soils. The
using the 1 M KCl extraction method, and total nitrogen amendments reduced the chemical fixation of phosphorus
was measured using the Kjeldahl method. These analyses by aluminum and iron, thereby increasing its availability
provided baseline and post-treatment soil characteristics for plant uptake. In addition, the combined application
35
essential for evaluating the amendments’ efficacy. Soil of quail manure and natural phosphate resulted in a slight
31
bulk density was measured using the core method at increase in soil pH, which mitigated the toxicity effects
a depth of 0 – 10 cm and 10 – 20 cm to assess changes of aluminum and improved overall nutrient availability.
36
in soil structure and porosity. Measurements were taken These transformations highlight the synergistic effects
before treatment application (week 0) and after harvesting of organic and inorganic amendments in enhancing

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/eer.8348