Utilization of Volcanic Ash and Magnetite Mineral for Peanut Crop Production

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out on sandy soil at Ismailia Governorate during two consecutive seasons of 2017-2018 under dripping irrigation system to study the effect of applied volcanic ash and magnetite mineral alone or mixture compared to recommended fertilizers (chemical fertilizers) as control on soil properties, peanut yield and its quality.

The obtained results show that soil salinity, pH and soil bulk density were decreased in volcanic ash, magnetite mineral and volcanic ash + magnetite mineral combined treatments, as compared to the control one. The total porosity and water holding capacity (WHC) values were augmented when soil treated by volcanic ash, magnetite mineral and volcanic ash + magnetite mineral, as compared to control. In addition, Hay and pod dry weight were significantly increased with combined treatment 26.40 and 65.00 %, respectively over the control treatment. The NPK contents were augmented due to the application of volcanic ash; it also amplified zinc concentration in hay four times and in seed three times that of control treatment. Manganese concentration followed the same trend of Zn concentration. Iron concentration increased almost five and four times compared with control treatment in hay and seed. Cupper concentration increased by 30 and 70 % in comparison to control treatment in hay and peanut seed, respectively due to volcanic ash application. The highest values of net photosynthesis rate as well as water use efficiency were also obtained from volcanic ash + magnetite mineral combined treatment as compared to those under control plants. The mixture of volcanic ash with magnetite mineral realized the highest oil content and total amino acids. Anatomical studies revealed significant increase in leaf features represented in midrib thickness, length and width of vascular bundle, phloem and xylem tissues and number of xylem vessels in vascular bundle as well as the leaf blade thickness compared to control plants. Combination of volcanic ash with magnetite mineral gave the maximum net profit as compared to control treatment. The agronomic efficiency could be arranged in the following descending order of volcanic ash plus magnetite mineral, > volcanic ash, > magnetite mineral, and finally > control.