PIG-SLURRY COMPOSTS AS WHEAT FERTILIZERS

The influence on a dry wheat (Cajeme variety) in the Guadalquivir Valley (Andalusia, Spain) of two composts (A, B) basically obtained from pig slurry has been studied and compared with conventional fertilization. The analyses revealed higher leaf levels of potassium in the anthesis for the plants fertilized with the composts, while the N contents for that stage were higher for the reference site and that dressed with conventional fertilizers. On the other hand, the leaf contents of sodium were higher in the sites dressed with composts throughout the vegetative cycle. Likewise, the mineral contents of the grains were higher in phosphorus, potassium and sodium in the sites dressed with composts and in nitrogen in those fertilized conventionally. Finally, the yields obtained, the alveographic assays carried out, and other grain components showed compost A (pig slurry, clay, poultry manure) to have a great potential of use with the wheat variety tested under the pedoclimatogical conditions prevailing in the area.