Application of organic waste products as amendments has been proposed as a management option whereby soil quality of Vertisols could be improved. An incubation experiment was, therefore, conducted for 4 weeks under controlled temperature conditions (30°C) to identify those potential organic amendments that might improve the quality of a Vertisol. Twelve organic amendments were investigated: cotton gin trash from three sources, cattle manure from two sources, green waste compost, chicken manure from three sources including a commercial product, biosolids and two commercial liquefied vermicomposts. Except for the biosolids, no other organic amendments had any effect on soil microbial biomass and respiration. Compared with NO3-N levels in the control, there was a 50% decrease in soil amended with 10 t ha—1 green waste compost (65 µg g—1). The three different types of chicken manures increased the NO3-N concentration from 75% (228 µg g—1) to 226% (424 µg g— 1) over the control. Approximate recovery of P added by the amendment as resin-extractable soil P was 53% for cattle manure and 39% for chicken manure. Application of cattle manure resulted in a 22% increase in soil-exchangeable K over levels found in control. Organic amendments application also resulted in a significant increase in exchangeable Na concentration. Some of the organic wastes, viz. cotton gin trash (10 t ha— 1), cattle manure (10 t ha—1), biosolids (10 t ha—1) and composted chicken manure (3 t ha—1) have value as a source of nutrients to soil and hence showed potential to improve Vertisol properties.
Anderson, J.P.E. & Domsch, K.H. ( 1978) A physiological method for the quantitative measurement of microbial biomass in soils. Soil Biology & Biochemistry , 10, 215-221.
3.
Aoyama, M., Angers, D.A. & N’Dayegamiye, A. (1999) Particulate and mineral-associated organic matter in water-stable aggregates as affected by mineral fertilizer and manure applications. Canadian Journal of Soil Science , 79, 295-302.
4.
Bernal, M.P., Lax, A. & Roig, A. ( 1993) The effect of pig slurry on exchangeable potassium in calcareous soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 16, 169-172.
5.
Blackmore, A.V. ( 1956) Time and temperature as factors in the dispersion of soil crumbs in water. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 7, 554-565.
6.
Bolan, N.S., Adriano, D.C. & Curtin, D. ( 2003) Soil acidification and liming interactions with nutrient and heavy metal transformation and bioavailability. Advances in Agronomy, 78, 215-272.
7.
Brechin, J. & McDonald, G.K. ( 1994) Effect of form and rate of pig manure on the growth, nutrient uptake, and yield of barley (cv. Galleon). Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 34, 505- 510.
Carey, P.L., Rate, A.W. & Cameron, K.C. ( 1997) Fate of nitrogen in pig slurry applied to a New Zealand pasture soil. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 35, 941-959.
10.
Cooper, J.L. ( 2005) The effect of biosolids on cereals in central New South Wales, Australia. 2. Soil levels and plant uptake of heavy metals and pesticides . Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45, 445-451.
11.
Coughlan, K.J. ( 1984) The structure of vertisols. In: McGarity J.W.,Hoult, E.H. & So, H.B. (eds) Properties and Utilisation of Cracking Clay Soils. University of New England: Armidale, NSW, Australia, pp. 87-96.
12.
Dalal, R.C. & Chan, K.Y. ( 2001) Soil organic matter in rainfed cropping systems of the Australian cereal belt. Australian Journal of Soil Research , 39, 435-464.
13.
Day, P.R. ( 1965) Particle fractionation and particle-size analysis, In: Black, C.A. (ed) Methods of soil analysis, Part 1. American Society of Agronomy , Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 545-567.
14.
Dick, R.P. ( 1992) A review: long-term effects of agricultural systems on soil biochemical and microbial parameters. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 40, 25-36.
15.
Edwards, C.A. & Neuhauser, E.F. ( 1988) Earthworms in Waste and Environmental Management. SPB Academic Publishing: The Hague.
16.
Entry, J.A., Wood, B.H., Edwards, J.H. & Wood, C.W. ( 1997) Influence of organic by-products and nitrogen source on chemical and microbiological status of an agricultural soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 24, 196-204.
17.
Evans, L. & Maheswaran, J. ( 2003) A system of prioritizing organic wastes generated in Victoria. In: Unkovich, M & O’Leary, G. (eds) Solutions for a Better Environment, 11th Australian Agronomy Conference. Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
18.
Farquharson, R.J., Schwenke, G.D. & Mullen, J.D. ( 2003) Should we manage soil organic carbon in Vertosols in the northern grains region of Australia? Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 43, 261-270.
19.
Fauci, M.F.& Dick, R.P. ( 1994) Soil microbial dynamics: short and long term effects of inorganic and organic nitrogen. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 58, 801-806.
20.
Ghosh, S., Hulugalle, N., Lockwood, P., King, K., Kristiansen, P. & Daniel, H. ( 2008) Organic amendments influence nutrient availability and cotton productivity in irrigated Vertosols. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 59, 1068-1074.
21.
Golchin, A., Oades, J.M., Skjemstad, J.O. & Clarke, P. ( 1994) Study of free and occluded particulate organic matter in soils by solid state 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 32, 285-309.
22.
Guidi, G., Pera, A., Giovannetti, M., Poggio, G. & Bertoldi, M. ( 1988) Variations of soil structure and microbial population in a compost amended soil. Plant and Soil, 106, 113-119.
23.
Haynes, R.J., Swift, R.S. & Stephen, R.C. ( 1991) Influence of mixed cropping rotations (pasture-arable) on organic matter content, stable aggregation and clod porosity in a group of soils. Soil & Tillage Research, 19, 77-87.
24.
Herrick, J.E. & Wander, M.M. ( 1997) Relationships between soil organic carbon and soil quality in cropped and rangeland soils: The importance of distribution, composition, and soil biological activity. In: Lal, R., Kimbley, J.M., Follett, R.F. & Stewart, B.A. (eds) Advances in Soil Science: Soil Processes and the Carbon Cycle. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 405-425.
25.
Hunt, J.B. ( 1998) Free-living soil nematodes in a cropping soil amended with feedlot manure. M.Sc. thesis, University of New England , Armidale, NSW, Australia.
26.
Isbell, R.F. ( 2002) The Australian Soil Classification. CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Victoria, Australia.
27.
Kimani, S.K., Gachengo, C.N. & Delve, R.J. ( 2003) Simulated partitioning coefficients for manure quality compared with measured C:N ratio effects. In: Bationo, A. (ed) Managing nutrient cycles to sustain soil fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. Academy Science Publishers (ASP), Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT): Nairobi, Kenya, pp. 199-206.
28.
Kizilkaya, R. & Hepsen, S. ( 2004) Effect of biosolid amendment on enzyme activities in earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) casts. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 167, 202-208.
29.
Kliese, Y.J., Dalal, R.C., Strong, W.M. & Menzies, N.W. ( 2005) Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 56, 245-255.
30.
Llaven, M.A.O., Jimenez, J.L.G., Coro, B.I.C. et al. (2008) Fruit characteristics of bell pepper cultivated in sheep manure vermicompost substituted soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 31, 1585-1598.
31.
Maheswaran, J., Meehan, B., Peverill, K. & Dziedzic, A-M. ( 2004) Potential for agri-industry wastes as soil ameliorants . In: Juhasz, A.L., Magesan, G. & Naidu, R. (eds). Waste Management. Science Publishers Inc., Enfield New Hampshire.
32.
Mason, W.R., Small, D.R. & Pritchard, K.E. ( 1984) Effects of irrigation and soil management for fodder crops on root zone conditions in a red-brown earth. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 22, 207- 218.
33.
Motavalli, P.P. & Miles, R.J. ( 2002) Soil phosphorus fractions after 111 years of animal manure and fertilizer applications. Biology and Fertility of Soils , 36, 35-42.
34.
Naramabuye, F.X. & Haynes, R.J. ( 2006) Effect of organic amendments on soil pH and Al solubility and use of laboratory indices to predict their liming effect. Soil Science, 171, 754-763.
35.
Nlwra. (2001) Australian Natural Resources Atlas. National Land & water Resources Audit , Canberra, Australia.
36.
Nyakatawa, E.Z., Reddy, K.C. & Sistani, K.R. ( 2001) Tillage, cover cropping, and poultry litter effects on selected soil chemical properties. Soil & Tillage Research , 58, 69-74.
37.
Nziguheba, G., Palm, C.A., Buresh, R.J. & Smithson, P.C. ( 1998) Soil phosphorus fractions and adsorption as affected by organic and inorganic sources. Plant and Soil, 198, 159-168.
38.
Paustian, K., Collins, H.P. & Paul, E.A. ( 1997) Management controls on soil carbon. In: Paul, E.A., Elliot, E.T., Paustian, K. & Cole, C.V. (eds) Soil Organic Matter in Temperate Agroecosystems. Long-Term Experiments in North America. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 15-49.
39.
Pote, D.H., Daniel, T.C., Nichols, D.J. et al. (1999) Relationship between phosphorus levels in three Ultisols and phosphorus concentrations in runoff. Jounal of Environmental Quality, 28, 170-175.
40.
Press, C.M., Mahaffee, W.F., Edwards, J.H. & Kloepper, J.W. ( 1996) Organic byproduct effects on soil chemical properties and microbial communities. Compost Science & Utilization , 4, 70-80.
41.
Reddy, K.R., Overcash, M.R., Khaleel, R. & Westerman, P.W. ( 1980) Phosphorus adsorption-desorption characteristics of two soils utilized for disposal of animal wastes. Jounal of Environmental Quality, 9, 86-92.
42.
Sharpley, A.N., McDowell, R.W. & Kleinman, P.J.A. ( 2004) Amounts, forms and solubility of phosphorus in soils receiving manure. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 68, 2048-2057.
43.
Singh, S., Mishra, R., Singh, A., Ghoshal, N. & Singh, K.P.(2009) Soil physicochemical properties in a grassland and agroecosystem receiving varying organic inputs. Soil Science Society of America Journal , 73, 1530-1538.
44.
Sistani, K.R., Rowe, D.E., Johnson, J. & Tewolde, H. ( 2004) Supplemental nitrogen effect on broiler-litter-fertilized cotton. Agronomy Journal, 96, 806-811.
45.
Soil Survey Staff. (2006) Keys to Soil Taxonomy. Washington D.C.
46.
Sonnleitner, R., Lorbeer, E. & Schinner, F. ( 2003) Effects of straw, vegetable oil and whey on physical and microbiological properties of a chernozem. Applied Soil Ecology , 22, 195-204.
47.
Sparks, D.L. & Huang, P.M. ( 1985) Physical chemistry of soil potassium. In: Munson, R.D. (ed) Potassium in agriculture . American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconcin, pp. 201-276.
48.
Tejada, M., Gracia, C., Gonzalez, J.L. & Hernandez, M.T. ( 2006) Use of organic amendment as a strategy for saline soil remediation: influence on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 38, 1413-1421.
49.
Venglovsky, J., Sasakova, N. & Placha, I.(2009) Pathogens and antibiotic residues in animal manures and hygienic and ecological risks related to subsequent land application. Bioresource Technology, 100, 5386-5391.
50.
Wander, M.M., Triana, S.J., Stinner, B.R. & Peters, S.E. ( 1994) Organic and conventional management effects on biologically active soil organic matter pools. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 58, 1130-1139.
51.
Wardle, D.A. ( 1992) A comparative assessment of factors which influence microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen levels in soil. Biological Reviews , 67, 321-358.
52.
Whalen, J.K. & Chang C. ( 2002) Macroaggregate characteristics in cultivated soils after 25 annual manure applications. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 66, 1637-1647.
