The effect of horn-manure preparation on enzymes activity and nutrient contents in soil as well as great pumpkin yield

Abstract

This investigation was inspired by an increasing global issue on how to improve soil quality while using alternative preparations instead of synthetic fertilizers. The main aim of a three-year study was to investigate the influence of horn-manure preparation on enzyme activity and nutrient content in soil and pumpkin yield. The results showed that significantly higher amounts of P (respectively 106 and 79 mg kg−1 CAL), K (149 and 106 mg kg−1 CAL), nitrogen (5.41 and 3.21 mg kg−1), ammoniacal nitrogen (9.38 and 3.45 mg kg−1) and mineral nitrogen (7.97 and 5.67 mg kg−1) were measured in the plots where the horn-manure preparation was used. A higher activity of the soil enzymes (urease activity was 1.93 times higher and the saccharase activity was 1.05 times higher) were identified with horn-manure. The average soil CO2 flux (Fc) value, when using horn-manure preparation (from 56 till 70 day), was significantly higher by 5.32% in the middle of the growing season. The yield of pumpkin was significantly increased by 18% with horn manure treatments. Significant positive correlations were identified between pumpkin yield and urease activity, and saccharase activity, as well as soil P and K.