MONITORING THE COMBINED ACTION OF CONTROLLED-RELEASE FERTILIZERS AND A SOIL CONDITIONER IN SOIL

The combined action of a soil conditioner and a controlled-release fertilizer was followed by conducting soil column leaching and tomato growth experiments. The change in soil water-holding capacitiy and the release of potassium sulfate (K2SO4) from conventional and controlled-release forms was evaluated using leaching experiments in soil columns. Tomato growth was followed by the comparison of biomass yields on a dry matter basis with experiments where different combinations of controlled-release or conventional fertilizer rates and soil conditioner applications. It was demonstrated that the combined usage of controlled-release fertilizers and soil conditioners increased tomato yield and enhanced the nutritional status of the tomato plants in comparison to conventional fertilizer materials.