Suitability of Fine Perlite for Conditioning Some Physical Properties of Soils for Multiply Onion

Abstract

The main objective of this research was aimed to study the some physical properties of soils and the quantity of macronutrient in multiply onion. The Randomized Complete Block Design were carried out in 4 treatments with 4 replications. Treatment 1 was the control made up only of the soil whereas in the treatments 2-4 perlite of 15, 22.5 and 30 kg were mixed with the soil of 150 kg each, respectively. The results showed that soil texture in all treatments become sandy clay loam with higher proportion of sand particles. The soil moisture parameters i.e. the highest field capacity and the highest available water capacity in Treatment 2 are 18.88 and 8.75 % by volume, respectively. The hydraulic conductivity in all treatments ranges within the moderate standard conductivity of 28.35-45.17 cm/hr. The value of 28.35 cm/hr in Treatment 2 showed the better storage condition of the plant nutrients. Considering both soil moisture and hydraulic conductivity, Treatment 2 could contain more micropores than the others; therefore it is the most effective condition for the multiply onion. The bulk density value of all treatments range between 1.42–1.49 g/cm³, the particle density ranges from 2.50-2.59 g/cm³ and the total porosity ranges from 40.20-44.00 % by volume. These indicate that the density and porosity of all treatments are suitable for plants in general.

Keywords : Perlite, Physical Properties, Macronutrient, Multiply Onion, Randomized Complete Block Design) RCB).