Potential Impact of Biostimulator NeOsol and Three Different Manure Types on Physical Soil Properties and Crop Status in Heavy Soils Conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted to understand the long-term influence of biostimulator NeOsol in combination with different manure types on soil’s physical properties and crop status. NeOsol is a soil biostimulator that should stimulate the biological reactions of the soil profile and improve the soil’s physical and chemical properties. A six-year experiment was conducted with eight treatments: NPK, cattle manure, pig manure, poultry manure, and the same four treatments with the NeOsol added on top. The in situ sampling of soil properties provided data on unit draft (UD), bulk density (BD), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC). Furthermore, remotely sensed data were analyzed to describe crop status via three selected vegetation indices (VI), and crop yields were assessed last. The variants treated with NeOsol demonstrated decreases in UD over time; BD, SHC, and VI did not significantly change. The impact on yield was significant and increased over time. When comparing the variants with manure application to those without one, the cattle manure led to significantly higher SHC; the pig manure led to significantly lower UD and BD but significantly higher SHC and yield; and the poultry manure led to significantly lower UD and BD but higher yield.

Effect of Biostimulant, Manure Stabilizer, and Manure on Soil Physical Properties and Vegetation Status

“…However, treatment of manure with a stabilizer did not lead to an increase in SHC compared to untreated manure, which is inconsistent with the authors' previous findings [18]. The use of the biostimulant did not lead to an improvement in SHC, which is in accordance with the results of the previous study [55].…”

The Role of Organic and Mineral Fertilization in Maintaining Fertility and Productivity of Cryolithozone Soils

“…Each ton of lime increases crop yields in a seven-field crop rotation by 0.7 t/ha. Liming of acidic Eutric Albic Retisols increases the efficiency of fertilizers by 30-40% but it should precede the application of fertilizers [98]. When the acidity of the soil is neutralized and the content of mobile aluminum in it is reduced to a minimum value via liming, a significant improvement in the phosphorus nutrition of plants is observed [26].…”