Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan

Balausa Kairekenova; Akbope Aitbayeva; Aigul Nussupova; Aliya Maxotova; Bakyt Aitbayeva; Temirzhan Aitbayev; Bakhytkul Kenzhaliyeva

doi:10.18393/ejss.1962124

Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan

Abstract

Tomato production under organic and low-input systems requires soil fertility strategies that sustain nutrient availability, plant growth, yield and fruit quality, particularly under warm and dry conditions. This study evaluated the effects of World Illite, a natural illite-based mineral amendment compatible with organic production, on soil fertility status, vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato in southeastern Kazakhstan. The experiment was conducted in 2025 on an alkaline, medium-loamy dark chestnut soil. World Illite was applied at a total seasonal rate of 4670 kg ha⁻¹ and compared with an untreated control. Biological seed treatments, the biofungicide Obogi and selected bioinsecticides were also evaluated as complementary components of an organic tomato production system. At the sampling time, World Illite-treated plots had higher humus, easily hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium contents than the control, by 40.6%, 77.8%, 20.0% and 9.1%, respectively. These differences were accompanied by significant increases in plant height, total plant weight, fruit number and mean fruit weight, by 48.5%, 54.9%, 37.7% and 38.1%, respectively. Tomato yield increased from 34.2 to 61.5 t ha⁻¹, corresponding to a 79.82% increase. World Illite also increased soluble dry matter by 14.5% and total sugar content by 50.8%. Nitrate concentration increased significantly but remained below the maximum permissible concentration used in the study. Among the complementary biological inputs, Trichodermix produced the highest final seed germination, Obogi reduced late blight severity by 71.73%, and Actarophyt showed the strongest biological effectiveness against Colorado potato beetle larvae. The results indicate that natural illite-based mineral amendments may improve the soil fertility–plant nutrition–yield–quality relationship in organic tomato production. However, multi-year studies including pre- and post-application soil analyses, plant nutrient uptake measurements and different amendment rates are needed to clarify the mechanisms of response.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Project Number

BR22885418

Thanks

The research was carried out under program-targeted funding BR22885418, “Scientific support of technological development of organic production of agricultural products in the Republic of Kazakhstan” for 2024–2026, financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Balausa Kairekenova This is me
0009-0001-6366-3405
Kazakhstan

Akbope Aitbayeva This is me
0000-0003-3829-2937
Kazakhstan

Aigul Nussupova This is me
0000-0001-5787-7119
Kazakhstan

Aliya Maxotova ^* This is me
0000-0003-3997-7137
Kazakhstan

Bakyt Aitbayeva This is me
0000-0003-3068-6982
Kazakhstan

Temirzhan Aitbayev This is me
0000-0001-9725-985X
Kazakhstan

Bakhytkul Kenzhaliyeva This is me
0000-0002-1815-9461
Kazakhstan

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

December 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1962124

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA48SK83WC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kairekenova, B., Aitbayeva, A., Nussupova, A., Maxotova, A., Aitbayeva, B., Aitbayev, T., & Kenzhaliyeva, B. (2026). Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 15(3), 444-456. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1962124

AMA

1.Kairekenova B, Aitbayeva A, Nussupova A, et al. Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan. EJSS. 2026;15(3):444-456. doi:10.18393/ejss.1962124

Chicago

Kairekenova, Balausa, Akbope Aitbayeva, Aigul Nussupova, et al. 2026. “Effects of a Natural Illite-Based Mineral Amendment on Soil Fertility, Plant Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Tomato under Organic Production Conditions in Southeastern Kazakhstan”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 (3): 444-56. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1962124.

EndNote

Kairekenova B, Aitbayeva A, Nussupova A, Maxotova A, Aitbayeva B, Aitbayev T, Kenzhaliyeva B (June 1, 2026) Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 3 444–456.

IEEE

[1]B. Kairekenova et al., “Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan”, EJSS, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 444–456, June 2026, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1962124.

ISNAD

Kairekenova, Balausa - Aitbayeva, Akbope - Nussupova, Aigul - Maxotova, Aliya - Aitbayeva, Bakyt - Aitbayev, Temirzhan - Kenzhaliyeva, Bakhytkul. “Effects of a Natural Illite-Based Mineral Amendment on Soil Fertility, Plant Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Tomato under Organic Production Conditions in Southeastern Kazakhstan”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15/3 (June 1, 2026): 444-456. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1962124.

JAMA

1.Kairekenova B, Aitbayeva A, Nussupova A, Maxotova A, Aitbayeva B, Aitbayev T, Kenzhaliyeva B. Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan. EJSS. 2026;15:444–456.

MLA

Kairekenova, Balausa, et al. “Effects of a Natural Illite-Based Mineral Amendment on Soil Fertility, Plant Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Tomato under Organic Production Conditions in Southeastern Kazakhstan”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 15, no. 3, June 2026, pp. 444-56, doi:10.18393/ejss.1962124.

Vancouver

1.Balausa Kairekenova, Akbope Aitbayeva, Aigul Nussupova, Aliya Maxotova, Bakyt Aitbayeva, Temirzhan Aitbayev, Bakhytkul Kenzhaliyeva. Effects of a natural Illite-based mineral amendment on soil fertility, plant growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under organic production conditions in southeastern Kazakhstan. EJSS. 2026 Jun. 1;15(3):444-56. doi:10.18393/ejss.1962124