The effects of adding Vertisol conditioners and emulsified Lubricating oil on soil respiration and biological soil crust thickness in sandy soil under different rainfall and moisture treatments

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Soil Sciences Water Resources, College of Agriculture, University of Basra, Iraq

10.22103/jab.2026.27141.1892

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding natural and industrial soil conditioners on the effectiveness of microorganisms and the thickness of the biological crust.
Materials and methods
In the field experiment, a section of the soil surface was cut to a depth of 15 cm Measurements were taken in the middle and end of the experiment. The experiment included two factors. The first factor was conditioner factor in seven treatments. The second factor was the rainfall moisture treatment, included four treatments.
Results
Soil conditioner treatments significantly increased soil respiration compared to the control. Lubricating oil treatment (O3) and vertisol soil treatment (C3) showed the highest CO2 release. The release rates for them were 29.13 and 27.03 mg CO2/kg soil, respectively. Among the rainfall moisture treatments, R1 showed the highest respiration rate (26.24 mg CO2/kg soil). While the lowest value was observed in R3 (19.79 mg CO2/kg soil). Soil amendments also significantly increased the biological crust thickness compared to the control group (C0). Among them, the O3 treatment showed the highest crust thickness in the middle and end of the experiment (4.66 and 4.81 cm, respectively). After that, the C3 treatment recorded the highest thickness (3.15 and 3.24 cm). It should be noted that the control treatment (C0) recorded the lowest values (1.36 and 1.40 cm). The highest recorded value for crust thickness, in terms of rainfall moisture, was related to treatment R1 and showed a significant difference with treatments R2, R3 and R4.
Conclusion
Using soil conditioners, particularly lubricating oil and Vertisol, significantly increased microbial activity and biological crust development. In addition, higher moisture levels improved soil respiration and crust formation. The results of this study showed that soil amendments and moisture management are of great importance in improving the biological properties of soil and should be considered.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 3
June 2026
Pages 355-372

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