This study was conducted to compare the effect of different cover crops on DTPA-Ext micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) and soil pH in a kiwi orchard with loam texture and a persimmon orchard with clay texture located in Samsun province of Turkey. Trifolium repens (TR), Festuca rubra subsp. rubra (FRR), Festuca arundinacea (FA), T. repens (40%) + F. rubra rubra (30%) + F. Arundinacea (30%) mixture (TFF), Vicia villosa (VV) and Trifolium meneghinianum (TM) were used as cover crops in the experiments. Mechanically cultivated (MC), herbicide treated (HC) and bare control (BC) plots were also included in the experiment. Soil samples of each plot were taken from two different depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm). Experiments were conducted in completely randomized blocks design with four replications. The highest Ext-Zn in the kiwi and persimmon orchards were obtained in the TR (2.9 and 1.4 mg kg-1, respectively), the highest Ext-Fe in the VV in the kiwi orchard (14.2 mg kg-1) and in the persimmon orchard (19.1 mg kg-1). The highest Ext-Mn in the VV (11.4 mg kg-1) in the kiwi orchard, and in the TR (9.4 mg kg-1) in the persimmon orchard was found. Generally, we suggest the use of cover crops to increase the micronutrients concentration of soils in the orchards.
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Research Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | August 31, 2019 |
Published in Issue | Year 2019 |