Abstract:

Objective: In this study, the application of different rates of vermicompost (V1 %0, V2 %0.2, and V3 %0.6) to 10 soil samples from Ağrı Eleşkirt region where sugar beet farming is intensive was investigated to determine the effect of vermicompost on corn growth and microelement uptake. Materials and Methods: Vermicompost fertilizers at rates of (V1, V2, and V3) were applied to 10 different soil samples in the research areas, and some physical and chemical analyses were applied in the greenhouse after analyzing the vermicompost produced by an entrepreneur. The micronutrients of plant samples harvested at the beginning of flowering and their effect on the intake of potentially toxic heavy metals were analyzed with other elemental contents, except boron (B), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and iron (Fe) which showed no significant difference. Results: The highest average values reflecting the effect of soil samples on the uptake of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements were from soil sample 1; 3.023 ppm Ni, 0.229 ppm Pb and 0.429 ppm Co; for soil sample 2, the highest mean values were found for 22.696 ppm Zn, 31.971 ppm B and 98.097 ppm Mn; the soil sample 3 obtained 12.169 ppm Cu, 3.777 ppm Mo and 0.186 ppm Cd thus the soil sample 8 obtained the highest value of 2.108 ppm Fe. The highest average value of vermicompost application in control dose (V1) was 7.916 ppm Cu, 12.194 ppm Zn, 14.637 ppm B, 43.065 ppm Mn, and 1.892 ppm Fe. The dose (V2) obtained the highest result of 0.136 ppm Pb and 0.096 ppm Cd whereas the dose (V3) obtained the highest value of 1.551 ppm Ni and 0.253 ppm Co. Conclusion: The interaction effect of soil samples and vermicompost applications was found very significant in plant micronutrient uptake. According to statistical analyses, differences between the microelement contents of plant samples and vermicompost doses were very significant. In addition, the high salt content of the vermicompost was interesting.

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