Influence of diatomaceous earth and its combinations with poultry manure on soil fertility and crop productivity

The effect and aftereffect of various norms of silicon-containing agricultural ore (diatomite) on the content of humus, nutrition elements, exchange acidity, the fractional composition of water-bearing aggregates in the arable layer of gray forest soil and the productivity of corn and spring wheat were studied. Studies have found that the most significant effect on the increase in the content of humus, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, mobile phosphorus and potassium, a decrease in metabolic acidity was caused by the introduction of diatomite in combination with bird droppings. It was found that the maximum increase in the total number of waterbearing aggregates in the arable layer of gray forest soil against the background of the action and aftereffect of diatomite in combination with bird droppings is mainly due to an increase in the number of water-bearing aggregates ranging in size from 1.0 to 0.25 mm. The highest effect on the productivity of corn and spring wheat was provided by the complex use of diatomite with bird droppings. The productivity of corn against their background increased by 47.7-59.6 %, the productivity of spring wheat by 26.8-35.4 %.