Impact of Humate Substances and Synthetic Polymers on Improving Quinoa Productivity and Soil properties

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out in newly reclaimed land in private farm present at Village No. 7 in Minia Governorate, Egypt to evaluate the impact of humate substances, i.e., potassium humate and potassium fulvate as soil application at two levels (23.8 and 35.7 kg ha-1), and synthetic polymers, namely polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at rates of 2% and 4%. The
results show that humate substances as soil application led to reduced soil pH, EC, ESP and soil bulk density in addition to increasing soil organic matter and soil fertility. Also, these soil ameliorations beside the synthetic polymers improved soil water retention. Vegetative growth and yield and yield components as well as protein percentage and yield in quinoa seeds showed significant response to the studied ameliorations, where humate substances and foliar spraying of carboxymethyl cellulose at high levels seem to be the best than the others. Furthermore, humate substances at high level gave the best net return of quinoa production. This means that it could be recommended to use the humate substances or foliar spraying of carboxymethyl cellulose at high rate to increase quinoa production and improve soil properties.