Anadolu Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Abstract

Intensive agriculture in dry lands when coupled with wind erosion lead degradation of soils’ physical and chemical qualities that limits achieving desired yield. Karapınar, located in Central Anatolia (CA) of Turkey experienced severe wind erosion in 1960s which affected 145000ha arable land. The mitigation studies undertaken from 1960s to 1990s successfully suppressed wind erosion effects from Karapınar. However, private fields still threaten by wind erosion due to improper land use such as excess irrigation, over use of fertilizers, tillage and unsuitable crop pattern. The soil carbon is the major soil component lost due to ignorance of organic matter supply to cultivated fields in CA. But, CA is traditionally the center of small ruminant production with its wide grazing lands. The current number of small ruminants exceeds 500.000 heads in the study area and manures generally sold to other regions of the country. The urgent necessity for providing carbon to eroded soils in the site can be met by local livestock activities. But farmers are not aware of animal manures efficiency or replacement with chemical fertilizers. Thus, an experiment was conducted at three 0.5 ha plots for demonstrating the efficiency of animal manure for cereal production. The cattle manure was applied at a rate of 20 t ha-1 to two plots (Akçaşehir and Karapınar) and one was control (Ereğli). As all soils are deficient in Zn content, 50 kg ha-1 ZnSO4.7H2O was provided to all plots. Conventional cropping was undertaken at Ereğli experimental field by application of 350kg ha-1 urea, 160 kg ha-1 TSP (Triple Super Phosphate).
Results revealed that manure application successfully substituted wheat’s nutrition requirement in CA also enhancing soil organic matter. The outcomes of the study is shared to farmers via Karapınar Agricultural Chamber and Turkey’s largest NGO namely TEMA (The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats) for capacity building.