Research Article

Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate

Number: 1 October 6, 2026

Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate

Abstract

Heat-treated organic amendments offer a sustainable approach to improving soil biological quality while reducing the sanitary risks associated with organic fertilizers. This study evaluated the effects of plant species, growing season, and heat-treated organic amendments on soil biological properties during two successive cultivation seasons of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba) and red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications, and the data were analyzed using a three-way factorial ANOVA. Significant interactions among plant species, growing season, and amendment type were observed for all measured biological parameters, indicating that soil microbial responses depended on the combined effects of these factors. Overall, heat-treated organic amendments increased urease, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase, microbial biomass carbon, and soil respiration by up to 135.7%, 43.7%, 45.8%, 235.2%, 185.7%, and 275.0%, respectively. Growing season was the dominant factor affecting most biological properties, with enzyme activities and microbial biomass generally increasing during the second cultivation season, whereas dehydrogenase activity declined. The results indicate that the evaluated heat-treated amendments maintain a high potential to stimulate soil biological processes, highlighting a promising alternative despite the lack of direct raw counterparts. Furthermore, considering the literature-supported hygienic benefits of thermal processing, these findings substantiate the overall agronomic viability and efficacy of heat-treated organic management in sustainable cabbage production systems.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Akdeniz University

Project Number

FYL-2023-6327

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval is not required for this study because it does not involve any human or animal subjects.

Thanks

The authors extend their gratitude to Merkez Anadolu Kimya A.Ş. for providing the organic amendments and seeds used in the experimental setup of this study.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Ecology, Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 6, 2026

Submission Date

June 19, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 27, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 1

APA
Maltaş, A. Ş., Tavalı, İ. E., Eken, A. C., Öndağ, E., & Sulaman, S. (2026). Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1, 1974534. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1974534
AMA
1.Maltaş AŞ, Tavalı İE, Eken AC, Öndağ E, Sulaman S. Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;(1):1974534. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1974534
Chicago
Maltaş, Ahmet Şafak, İsmail Emrah Tavalı, Ahmet Cemil Eken, Elanur Öndağ, and Saira Sulaman. 2026. “Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study With Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1: 1974534. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1974534.
EndNote
Maltaş AŞ, Tavalı İE, Eken AC, Öndağ E, Sulaman S (October 1, 2026) Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences 1 1974534.
IEEE
[1]A. Ş. Maltaş, İ. E. Tavalı, A. C. Eken, E. Öndağ, and S. Sulaman, “Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate”, YYU J AGR SCI, no. 1, p. 1974534, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.29133/yyutbd.1974534.
ISNAD
Maltaş, Ahmet Şafak - Tavalı, İsmail Emrah - Eken, Ahmet Cemil - Öndağ, Elanur - Sulaman, Saira. “Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study With Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 1 (October 1, 2026): 1974534. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1974534.
JAMA
1.Maltaş AŞ, Tavalı İE, Eken AC, Öndağ E, Sulaman S. Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;:1974534.
MLA
Maltaş, Ahmet Şafak, et al. “Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study With Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1, Oct. 2026, p. 1974534, doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1974534.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Şafak Maltaş, İsmail Emrah Tavalı, Ahmet Cemil Eken, Elanur Öndağ, Saira Sulaman. Soil Biological Activity under Heat-Treated Organic Management: A Comparative Study with Red and White Cabbage in a Mediterranean Climate. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026 Oct. 1;(1):1974534. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1974534
Creative Commons License
Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of Agricultural Sciences by Van Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Agriculture is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.