EFFECTS OF SHEEP MANURE ON VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE GROWTH AND NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS OF SOYBEAN PLANTS UNDER LEACHING AND NON-LEACHING CONDITIONS

Lack of adequate organic matter (OM) is responsible for the poor physico-chemical condition in the agricultural soils of Iran. Thus, increasing soil OM has an important role in improving soil fertility and structure. The main purpose of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the impact of sheep manure and its leaching status on growth, nutrient concentration of soybean plants and some physico-chemical properties of the soil. Treatments consisted of four levels of sheep manure (0, 1, 2, and 4 % based on thy weight), each with both leaching and non-leaching statuses. To reduce salinity, leaching of manure was done with 1:10 manure-water ratio. Results indicated that sheep manure employment significantly increased plant top dry weight. Plant nutrient concentrations increased as manure content increased, which were shown under non-teaching status. However, soybean has moderate tolerance to salinity; thus, application of essential amount of manure to this plant is proposed.