Short-term compost effect on macroaggregation in a sandy soil under low rainfall in the valley of Mexico

Several studies have shown the importance of organic material in the formation and stability of soil aggregates. The organic matter of soil (SOM) is affected among other factors by the application of farmyard waste and compost, as well as tillage and crop rotation. This paper examines the aggregation and stability of a sandy soil (Haplic Fluvisol) in the valley of Mexico when treated with either 30 Mg ha(-1) of compost or urea (80 kg ha(-1) of N) and sown to amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) under dryland conditions. The application of compost resulted in a significantly larger proportion of aggregates in the fractions >1 mm (1.0-2,0, 2.0-2.3, 2.3-4.7 mm) than in the smaller fraction (<1 mm). However the stability of the macroaggregates >1 mm in the compost treatment was not higher than in contrasting treatments which did not include organic matter. Compost, which was applied under drought conditions, did not increase the aggregate stability of the soil probably because of the restricted transformation of the compost and microorganism activity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.