Intergradation of different fertilizers for sustainable agriculture enhanced growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Organic farming is an advantageous agricultural system that enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biogeochemical cycles, biological activity and biodiversity in soils. In this regard, greenhouse and lyzemeter experiments were conducted to evaluate eight compost preparations, and to investigate the combined effect of compost- Azotobacter chroococcum on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cv. Misr 2 under different nitrogen levels (36, 72 and 108 kg N ha-1). In greenhouse experiment, application of compost treatment No. 8 (produced by mixture of rice straw, cattle dung and inoculated with Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus sonorensis) attained the highest vegetative growth parameters at 46.3 cm plant height, 8.92 g plant fresh weight and 2.96 g dry weight of wheat plants at 30 days after sowing comparing with control. An increase of 100 % N2 treatment has been measured for all vegetative growth parameters at 60 and 90 days after sowing. Similar trend was also exhibited in N % of root and shoot of plant. On the other hand, significant enhancement in vegetative growth was obtained using co-amendments treatments with compost treatment No.8, mineral N2 and inoculation with Azotobacter chroococcum at different doses compared to traditional N-fertilizer dose for lyzemeter experiment. The data showed that application with 50% of full dose of compost supplemented with Azotobacter chroococcum is the most effective treatment for enhancing urease and dehydrogenase and microbial activity in soil, as well as yield parameters of plant at different period times compared to control.