الفهرس 
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Abstract
The objective of this work was to study the effect of some soil conditioners additions on soil fertility and productivity of sandy soil. To achieve this objective, a field experiment was conducted at Ismailia Agric. Res. Station to investigate the effect of application of bentonite, compost and biocomposite on some soil properties and yields of peanut and wheat crops.
A complete randomized block design in four replications was used in this experiment. The area of each plot was 3 x 3.5 m2 and
the treatments were as follows:
1.Control.
2.Bentonite at rates of 5, 10 and 15 ton/fed.
3.Compost at rates of 5, 10 and 15 ton/fed.
4.Biocomposite at rates of 4, 6 and 8 ton/fed.
5.Mixture of 10 ton bentonite + 10 ton compost /fed.
6.Mixture of 10 ton bentonite + 6 ton biocomposite /fed.
The previous treatments were mixed with the surface soil layer (0-20cm). Then, the experimental field was planted with peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) C.V. Giza 4 and followed by wheat (Triticum vulgare) C.V. Sakha 69 for two successive growth seasons (2001-2002) under sprinkler irrigation system.
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
- Addition of biocomposite (6 or 8 ton/fed), as well as, bentonite (10 or 15 ton/fed) slightly affected the finer fractions in the soil.
- Slight increase in O.M. content was obtained with applying either 15 ton compost/ fed or 8 ton biocomposite/fed.
- Soil salinity (EC) was increased with increasing the rate of soil conditioners application. This increase follows this order: Biocomposite > compost >bentonite.
-Addition of compost, as well as, biocomposite gradually increased the CEC values with increasing the application rate.
- High values of available N, P, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in sandy soil were obtained with applying 8 ton biocomposite/fed, followed by applying 15 ton compost/fed.
- High values of available K were recorded with applying 15 ton bentonite/fed followed by applying 8 ton biocomposite/fed.
-Low values of available N, P, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu were recorded with all bentonite treatments.
-The lowest value of available K was obtained with applying 5 ton compost/fed.
-The highest concentrations of the studied macro and micronutrients were recorded in peanut vegetative parts and seeds with applying 8 ton biocomposite/fed, followed by applying 15 ton compost/fed, while the lowest values were recorded with 5 ton bentonite /fed.
- The highest peanut seed yield was obtained with applying 8 ton biocomposite/fed., as well as, 15 ton compost/fed.
- The highest yield of wheat grains was achieved with applying 8 ton biocomposite/fed, followed by applying 15 ton compost/fed.
-The lowest yields of peanut seeds and wheat grains were obtained by applying 5 ton bentonite/fed.
-Seed yield of peanut increased progressively and recorded the highest increase percentage (227.7%) as compared with control with using 8 t biocomposite/fed. The corresponding increase percentage in wheat grain yield associated with the same conditioner treatment was 214.1%