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Tropentag, October 11 - 13, 2005 in Stuttgart-Hohenheim

"The Global Food & Product Chain –
Dynamics, Innovations, Conflicts, Strategies"


The Interaction Between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Rhizobium meliloti and Bacillus circulans on Trigonella foenum-graecum L. in a Calcareous Soil

Amal Aboul-Nasr1, Mohamed Essmat El-Fayoumy2, Essam Koreish1, Amal Aboul Goud3

1Alexandria University, Saba-Bach, Agricultural Microbiology, Egypt
2Soil & Water and Environmental Research Institute, Soil Science, Egypt
3Alexandria University, Soil Science, Egypt


Abstract


Two field experiments were carried out during two winter seasons of 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 at the Farm of Nubaria, Agriculture Research Station, Egypt. Trigonella seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium meliloti, Glomus etunicatum and biological potassium fertilizer (BPF) Bacillus circulans as a single inoculant or mixed in the presence of different levels of NPK mineral fertilizers. Nitrogen fertilizer was added at different levels in the case of Rhizobium inoculation. Recommended dose for both phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were used. Phosphorus fertilizer was added at different levels in the case of inoculating the seeds with Glomus etunicatum. Nitrogen and potassium fertilizers were applied at the recommended dose (N=240, P=480 and K=240 kg/ha).
Potassium fertilizer was used at different levels in the case of inoculating the seeds with Bacillus circulans. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were used at the recommended dose.
NPK fertilizers were added at different levels in the case of using mixed inoculation.
The experiments were aranged as split plot design in randomized complete blocks with four replicates. Main plot was mineral fertilizer treatments and subplots were the inoculations. Growth parameters,yield and protein content in Trigonella seeds were studied in calcareous soil.
Inoculated plants with Rhizobium or Glomus etunicatum increased the yield of Trigonella from 2-4% above those of the noninoculated plants in the presence of 75 and 50% of the recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, respectively. Mixed inoculation with Rhizobium, Glomus and Bacillus had the highest seed yield (1779 kg/ha) in the presence of 75% of the mineral NPK fertilizers recommended.
Percentage of protein content in seeds were not significantly increased due to the inoculations.
NPK uptake (kg/ha) were significantly increased in the presence of mixed inoculations using 75% of the recommended dose.
Generally, in case of seeds inoculation with Rhizobium or Bacillus separately, 25% of mineral fertilizers of N or K were saved, while inoculating seeds with Glomus etunicatum can save 50% of the phosphorus fertilizer. Mixed inoculations can save 25% of the NPK mineral fertilizers.


Keywords: Bacillus circulans, calcareous soil, Fenugreek seeds, Glomus etunicatum, NPK fertilizers, Rhizobium meliloti


Contact Address: Amal Aboul-Nasr, Alexandria University, Saba-Bach, Agricultural Microbiology, 59 Mahmoud Sedky Str. - Post No. 21411, Alexandria, Egypt, e-mail: a_aboulnasr@yahoo.com


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