Potential Risk Of Organic Manures Application On Soil Salinization

Application of organic manures as fertilizer is essential in supporting plant with nutrients and soil improvement. Field and laboratory experiments were carried out to assess the effect of three organic manures on soil salinity. Field experiment was arranged in randomized split plot, the main plots were two levels of soil salinity at average of 2.9 and 8.7 mS/cm, the sub plots were alfalfa green manure, chicken manure and cow manure at rate of 20 t/ha added one month before sowing of maize crop. The results showed that; soil salinity was raised up to 5.5, 5.1 and 5.8 mS/cm in low saline soil in the first season for alfalfa, cow and chicken manure respectively, whereas in the second season the salinity was increased in respective up to 7.3, 5.3 and 6.4 mS/cm. The high saline soil salinity was increased from 8.7 mS/cm to 10.9, 12.4 and 13.1 mS/cm in the first season, and 12.6, 13.6 and 14.4 mS/cm in the second season for alfalfa, cow and chicken manure respectively. The results of the laboratory experiment showed that salinity level increased linearly with increasing rate of organic manure for all organic materials investigated in this study. Keywords: organic manures, soil salinity, sustainable agricultur

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seeds as unconventional nutritional source

The composition of roselle seed from oil, protein, ash, fiber, fatty acids and amino acids was determined and compared in three cultivars in order to use it as an unconventional nutritional source. Aswan cv. occupies the highest significant rank in protein (31.51), oil (23.70) and fiber (4.87%) contents. Aswan and Sewa cvs. had the highest significant unsaturated fatty acid composition, especially oleic and linoleic acids, with oleic acid having values of 36.22 and 33.34% and linoleic acid, 14.95 and 15.10% values. Protein of Aswan cv. had the highest significant values of seven essential amino acids and four non-essential amino acids, especially lysine and phenylalanine.Key words: Amino acids, fatty acids, nutrition, oil, protein, roselle, unconventional crops