Influence of organic and mineral fertilizers on the agrochemical properties of soil in organic vegetable farms

Abstract

The inversigations were carried out in Lithuania, at Vytautas Magnus University's Agricultural Academy Test Station in loam Calc (ar) i-Epihypogleyic Luvisol - LVg-p-w-cc neutral, average humus, phosphorus and potassium soil. The investigation has been carried out with organically grown carrots and naturally occurring mineral phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, certified in organic farming system, such as: phosphorite powder, Patenkali, and organic fertilizers (cattle manure compost and vermicompost). The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of natural mineral and organic fertilizers on the agrochemical properties of the soil in the system of organic gardening. The amount of organic carbon and humus, mobile potassium, phosphorus and total nitrogen decreased in unfertilized soil. The soil natural fertility decreased, it was degraded. The use of phosphorus fertilizers increased the amount of mobile phosphorus in the soil, while fertilizing with potassium, the amount of mobile potassium increased the amount of mobile potassium, mobile phosphorus and organic carbon and humus decreased accordingly. The natural mixture of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers solved the problem of the decrease of mobile phosphorus and potassium in the soil, but the tendency of the decrease of humus in the soil remained. Organic fertilizers increased organic carbon and humus in the soil. The content of phosphorus and potassium in organic fertilizers was insufficient to ensure the accumulation of phosphorus and potassium in the soil. Fertilization by cattle manure vermicompost and compost had the greatest impact on the accumulation of organic carbon and humus in the soil. Vermicompost was more effective than compost.