Effect of phosphorus fertilization and seed biofertilization on harvest index and phosphorus use efficiency of wheat cultivars

Abstract

Phosphorus deficit is a most important restrictive factor in plant growth, and recognition of mechanisms that increase plant phosphorus use efficiency is important. In order for evaluation of biofertilizer application, different levels of phosphorus fertilizer effects on yield and phosphorus use efficiency in winter wheat cultivars, an experiment was conducted in a RCBD based factorial design in Islamic Azad University of Tabriz Research Field, Iran. Studied factors were wheat cultivars [Kaskojen (V1) and Alvand (V2)], phosphate biofertilizer [seed inoculation (B1) and non-inoculation (B o )] and chemical phosphorus fertilizer [zero (P 0 ), 15 (P 1 ), 30 (P 2 ) and 45 (P 3 ) kg ha -1 as triple super phosphate]. Results indicated that excessive phosphorus application as 30-45 kg ha -1 increased fertile tiller number, however, intensity of this increase decreased in compare with P 0 and P 1 . Among studied treatments only V 1 P 1 caused 34% increase in flag leaf area. Seed yield in V 2 and V 1 was 5058 and 3886 kg ha -1 , respectively. Also, the yield increased 12% in B 1 when compared with B 0 . Application of biofertilizer resulted in 12% increase in harvest index, and phosphorus fertilizer application up to P 3 caused to 6.5% increase in harvest index in compare with P 0 . In this experiment application of triple super phosphate over 15 kg ha-1 could reduce APUE, significantly. It is concluded that seed yield, harvest index and APUE of two studied cultivars can be improved by biofertilization plus phosphorus application.