EFFECTS OF WATERING WITH NITRON R ON ACIDITY, WATER RETENTION
AND PENETRABILITY OF CLAY SOIL AND ACIDITY OF CLAY SOIL

Stuart B. Hill, PH.D. and  M. Davidova

Ecological Agriculture Projects Macdonald College of McGill University

          Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec

INTRODUCTION 

Clay soils are heavy and difficult to cultivate. They tend to compact easily, thus depriving the plant roots of oxygen. Such soils also retain too much moisture under normal conditions. The clay may form a compact layer at times of drought, thus preventing water from reaching the roots.

This experiment was designed to determine if watering with Nitron R solution (an enzyme product for use as a soil conditioner) improves the physical qualities of clay soils. 

MATERIALS AND METHODS 

All tests were conducted in the greenhouses and laboratories of Macdonald College, Ste-Anne de Bellevue. A randomised design with 45 pots was used. Soil (Ste.Rosalie clay) was collected (and subsequently pasteurized) from a field in the Seed Farm of Macdonald College. The treatments were as follows:

1. 15 pots - control - untreated soil, watered only with tap water. 

2. 15 pots - same soil with sulphur added and watered with tap, water. 

3. 15 pots - same soil with sulphur added, watered with tap water and given 4 treatments with 5% Nitron R water solution. 

Polebeans were seeded (3 per pot) after 24 hours presoaking:\I0 seeds in distilled water

45 seeds in 0.5% Nitron R distilled water solution. 

For treatments (2) and (3) 1.57 grams of sulphur was premixed with the soil, to achieve higher acidity. The pH of the control was tested. After two waterings with tap water the pH of the sulphur-treated soil was measured.