EVALUATION OF FELDSPAR AND BENTONITE AS SOIL AMENDMENTS AND THEIR EFFECT WITH FOLIAR SILICON APPLICATION ON SANDY SOIL PROPERTIES AND MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

: A field experiment was conducted along the two successive summer seasons of 2020 and 2021 under sandy soil conditions at Ismailia Agricultural Research Station of Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. This study aims to evaluate the effect of bentonite and feldspar application as soil amendments (A) at a rate of 2.4 Mg ha -1 and 4 rates of foliar spray of potassium silicate (Si) i.e. 0,100,150 and 200 mg l -1 on yield of maize plant (Zea mays L .) and sand soil properties. The experimental treatments (12 treatments) were arranged in a split-plot design. The obtained results illustrated an improvement in soil properties i.e. bulk density, total porosity, field capacity, wilting point, available water, pore size distribution, and soil content of available NPK. There were significant increases in N, P, and K uptake by maize grain. The highest values in grain and stover yield of maize plant as attained at treatments of Feldspar*Si 200 and bentonite*Si 150 . Using feldspar and bentonite can play an important role to improve the properties of sandy soil and the productivity of maize plants. This study aims to evaluate the influence of and different rates of on and in