Table 1 Soil characteristics at the experiment site (n = 3 for all parameters). Figures in parentheses represent standard errors; different letters indicate significant differences between groups at p < 0.05

pH

7.00 (0.05)a

7.06 (0.05)a

6.69 (0.03)b

6.80 (0.03)b

Organic matter content (%)

4.0 (0.2)a

4.0 (0.2)a

5.3 (0.2)b

5.2 (0.4)b

N (g/kg)

1.03 (0.18)a

1.15 (0.21)a

1.33 (0.23)a

1.92 (0.33)a

Available P (mg/kg)

271.0 (20.7)a

273.4 (62.0)a

120.8 (16.0)b

148.9(22.4)b

Exchangeable K (mg/kg)

56.3 (12.6)a

52.1 (6.3)a

87.4 (22.0)a

65.9 (10.6)a

Sand (%)

77.8 (1.2)a

77.1 (1.5)a

69.8 (1.3)b

69.1 (1.8)b

Clay (%)

6.7 (0.9)a

6.4 (0.9)a

12.2 (0.02)b

13.2 (1.5)b

Silt (%)

15.5 (0.3)a

16.5 (0.7)a

18.0 (1.3)a

17.6 (0.9)a