Enhancing soil health and nitrogen efficiency in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants through organic and mineral fertilizations in saline and non-saline soils

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 519 - 528, 26.06.2025

Cevher İlhan Cevheri , Suat Cun , Vedat Beyyavaş , Emrah Ramazanoglu , Erdal Sakin , Ahmet Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.2.25

Abstract

Soil salinity significantly influences nitrogen dynamics within the soil matrix. Therefore, monitoring the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by plants in saline conditions is imperative. This investigation assesses the impact of mineral and organic fertilizers on nitrogen assimilation and various soil chemical characteristics under both saline and non-saline conditions in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivation. The study employed the Candia cotton cultivar along with diammonium phosphate (DAP, 18-46-0), cattle manure, and vermicompost as fertilization strategies. Vermicompost (1.58 dS m-1) and cattle manure (1.49 dS m-1) applications markedly alleviated the adverse effects of salinity by reducing electrical conductivity (EC) in saline soils (P<0.05). Organic fertilizers were observed to significantly increase the soil organic carbon (SOC) levels in saline soils compared to mineral fertilizers (P<0.05). The maximum plant height in saline conditions was recorded with vermicompost treatment (26.00 cm), while in non-saline environments, the greatest height was observed with cattle manure application (32.33 cm). In saline scenarios, DAP fertilization resulted in elevated nitrogen concentrations in the root (0.94%) and stem (2.03%) tissues over leaf tissues. Organic fertilizers markedly improved the nitrogen content in cotton across all tissue types, under both saline conditions and with both fertilizer categories (P<0.05). Additionally, organic amendments decreased the EC levels in saline soils and enhanced soil organic matter content. Contrary to mineral fertilizers, the use of organic amendments positively influenced nitrogen acquisition by cotton in saline conditions.

Keywords

Saline soil , Cotton , Nitrogen dynamics , Organic fertilizers

Supporting Institution

HARRAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ - BİLİMSEL ARAŞTIRMA PROJELERİ BİRİMİ

Project Number

18059

Thanks

We would like to thank Harran University Faculty of Agriculture revolving capital enterprise for their support.

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