New Materials, Compounds and Applications

This study investigated the synergistic effect of hybrid ameliorants - composed of Khovdak bentonite clay, organic manure and surfactants - on the fractional composition of soil humus and the early ontogenesis of the “Grom” winter wheat variety in the saline irrigated serozem soils of the Surkhandarya region. Although the individual benefits of bentonite and organic matter are well-known, this research highlights a specific mechanism whereby the addition of 15 liters of surfactants per hectare accelerates the conversion of organic compounds into fulvic and humic acids and facilitates the absorption of these substances into the bentonite clay matrix, thereby stabilizing organic carbon in the soil under arid conditions. According to the methods of I.V. Tyurin and M.M. Kononova, the combined application of 1.5 tons of bentonite with 6 tons of manure and surfactants per hectare was observed to significantly alter the soil humus profile. The ratio of humic acids to fulvic acids (C_g:C_f) increased from 0.55±0.04 in the control variant to 0.94±0.03, shifting the humus type from a predominantly fulvic state to a much more stable humate-fulvate state. This biochemical stabilization was correlated with an increase in the germination energy of winter wheat to 88.4% and a significant improvement in the primary root system architecture compared to the control variant. These results indicate that hybrid organo-mineral complexes represent a promising strategy for mitigating humus degradation and optimizing the nutrient regime for wheat in saline arid agroecosystems.