Effects of Anaerobic Digestate on Chinese Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Yield Components, Soil Properties, and Microbial Communities under Saline Irrigation Condition

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 2018-10, Vol.49 (19), p.2446-2455
• Main Authors: Elbashier, Mohammed M. A., Shao, Xiaohou, Tingting, Chang, Ali, Albashir A. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Bacteria; Chinese melon; Compound fertilizers; digestate; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Farm buildings; Fertilizers; Fruits; fruits quality; Fungi; growth parameters; Height; Impaired water use; Irrigation; Irrigation water; Leaves; Melons; Microbial activity; Microbiomes; Microorganisms; Plant communities; Plant growth; Plants; Saccharides; Saline soils; Saline water; Sodium; Sodium chloride; Soil; Soil chemistry; Soil conductivity; Soil microorganisms; Soil pH; Soil properties; Soil water; Sugar; sugar content; Water treatment; Yields
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2018.1510954

Digestate is increasingly utilized as a fertilizer, and earlier research was dedicated to plant growth and soil properties, with simple little information available regarding the effects of digestate on soil, plant, and microbial communities under saline irrigation. For this reason, a pot experiment with Chinese melon was conducted in a greenhouse, and digestate (1100 L ha −1 ) and a full recommended dose of NPK fertilizer were used. The melons were irrigated with normal water 0.25 (SL0) and 2 dS/m (SL1) using sodium chloride (NaCl). Application of digestate increased the melon plant height and leaves number significantly (p