Summary
This study examined how on-farm compost amendment affects the physical and hydraulic properties of clay soils over eighteen months, using three compost application rates (1.5, 15, and 75 kg m⁻²) compared to a control. Water retention improved significantly across all treatments after eighteen months, with higher compost rates extending these improvements across a wider soil pressure range (to 60 cm versus 6 cm at lower rates). Whilst temporal analysis suggested potential improvements in soil permeability at higher compost rates, measured saturated hydraulic conductivity effects largely dissipated after eleven months, indicating that compost benefits to clay soil permeability may be transient under the tested conditions.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK clay soil management, as clay-dominant soils are common in many UK regions; however, the study was conducted without active cropping and in a Mediterranean climate context, so results may require validation under UK climatic and agronomic conditions before firm recommendations for on-farm practice can be made.
Key measures
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), soil water content and water retention (θ), bulk density, soil structure, pore volume distribution, inflection point of the soil water retention curve, water retention curve
Outcomes reported
The study measured changes in soil water retention, saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, soil structure, and derived physical quality indicators over eighteen months following compost addition at three rates. Temporal changes in soil permeability and water-holding capacity were assessed in large undisturbed soil boxes.
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