Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources at Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Golestan province, Iran.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Rangeland Management, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad, Golestan, Iran.
3
Associate Professor, Department of Plant Production, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad, Golestan, Iran.
4
B.Sc. Graduated in Water Engineering, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad, Golestan, Iran.
Abstract
In the present study, the effects of applying cellulosic compost at a rate of 5 kg per plant on the vegetative and reproductive growth of Astragalus podolobus were investigated over two consecutive years at Gonbad Kavous University. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth parameters including collar diameter, plant height, canopy cover, number of pods, mean number of seeds per pod, and number of flowers per plant were measured in both treated and control plants. In addition, changes in soil microbial populations were evaluated. The results showed that compost application in the second-year increased soil organic matter from 1.01% to 2.7% and soil porosity from 47% to 59%. The quantitative improvement in soil organic matter reduced soil bulk density, shifting it from a relatively heavy to a relatively light condition. Compost treatment had a positive effect on root growth; three months after application, roots accumulated in the compost injection zone, with improved volume and structure. The findings also indicated a significant increase in collar diameter in compost-treated plants in the second year. Plant height increased significantly in the treatment compared to the control in the second year, whereas canopy cover did not show a significant difference in either year. In the reproductive phase, the second application of compost resulted in a significant increase in the total number of pods and the mean number of seeds per plant in treated plants compared with the control, indicating a cumulative positive effect of compost on reproductive performance. Moreover, compost addition led to a significant increase in soil bacterial and fungal populations. Overall, the results demonstrate that the application of cellulosic compost effectively improved both vegetative and reproductive growth of A. podolobus. This improvement likely contributed to carbon sequestration, initially as carbon chains within the plant and subsequently as soil organic carbon.
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