Effect of Biochar, Compost Tea and Magnetic Iron Ore Application on some Soil Properties and Productivity of Some Field Crops under Saline Soils Conditions at North Nile Delta

TWO field experiments were conducted at Sakha Agric. Res. Station Farm, North Delta, during two seasons, summer of 2015 and winter of 2016 to study the effect of biochar, compost tea and magnetite iron ore application on some soil properties and its productivity under saline soil conditions. The experiments were designed as randomized complete blocks with three replicates. It is found that, salinity and sodicity of the soil were highly significant decreased due to different treatments after the harvesting of plants. Cation exchange capacity and soil porosity were highly significant increased due to individual application of biochar, compost tea, or magnetic iron ore and recorded the highest values by combination of treatments. While, bulk density was decreased soil infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity were highly significant increased and recorded the highest value by combination of treatments after harvesting of plants. Soil nutrients availability, yield, water use efficiency and NPK uptake by crops were highly significant increased with individual treatments and recorded the highest values using combination of them. Total income, net income, economical efficiency and net income from water unit were highly significant increased by individual application of all treatments and recorded the highest values by combination of them. It could be concluded that 400 L fed-1 of compost tea, 2.0 Mg fed-1 as biochar amendments and 150 kg fed-1 as magnetic iron ore application can be economically used for production of wheat and maize. The remediation of salt-affected soil in North Delta using previous soil amendments should be applied further, as an effective way of enhancing food crops productivity and improving some soil properties.