Sakin, E; Seyrek, A; Sakin, ED
The physical, chemical and biological characteristics of cultivated and uncultivated soils may differ from one another, significantly affecting the productivity of the soil. The aim of this study was to compare the physicochemical characteristics and the nutrient element status of cultivated and uncultivated soils. In this context, a 150 soil samples were collected from a soil depth of 0-30 cm at cultivated and uncultivated soils (75 from cultivated and 75 from uncultivated). The analysis of results indicated that cultivated and uncultivated soil samples obtained could all be characterised as clay soils. The average calcareous (CaCO3) content of cultivated and uncultivated soils ranged between 34.09 and 27.09%, respectively. The organic matter (OM) content and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of cultivated soils were relatively low, while the OM content and CEC of uncultivated soils were higher. The soil reaction (pH) of uncultivated soils was neutral or slightly alkaline, while pH of cultivated soils varied between slightly and strongly alkaline. Both types of soils had low electrical conductivity (EC), and hence no salinity problems. In both uncultivated and cultivated soils, the levels of available nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and nickel (Ni) were found to be insufficient, while the levels of available copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) were shown to be sufficient. The levels of available boron (B), on the other hand, were found to be partially sufficient. The N levels indicating positive and significantly correlated with pH (p < 0.05), Silt (p < 0.05), clay (p < 0.01), CEC (p < 0.01), and OM (p < 0.01) of soils, whereas, negative and significantly correlated with biomass (p < 0.01) and calcareous content (p < 0.01) of soils. The P levels in soils indicating positive and significantly correlated with OM (p < 0.01) levels, while negative and significantly correlated with clay (p < 0.05), biomass (p < 0.05), and bulk density (BD) (p < 0.05) in soils. Furthermore, Ni had a positive and significantly correlated with CEC (p < 0.05), negative and significantly correlated with bulk density (BD) (p < 0.01), while, Mn had a positive and significantly correlated with clay (p < 0.01), BD (p < 0.01) and calcareous content (p < 0.05), and negative and significantly correlated with OM (p < 0.05). Data of study were compared using the SPSS 9.0 package program.