Response of maize to application of microbial activator, sulphur and phosphorus to maize grown on a calcareous soil [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the role of some microbial activators in presence of sulphur and phosphorus at different rates of applications for the main cereal crop production grown on a newly reclaimed calcareous soil. Treatments included two types of microbial inoculant activator individually or mixed. Type I included P-dissolving bacteria (PDB) with Aspergillus niger fungi; type IT included Bacillus subtilis bacteria as main treatments, 100 and 200kg elemental sulphur as sub treatments, 6.5 or 13 kg P as sub sub treatments applied to maize grown on a sandy clay loam calcareous soil at Abou Masoud village 48 km to Alexandria, Egypt. The study assessed effect on some soil properties, as well as N, P and K uptake by maize plants, plant yields and some yield components. Soil salinity did not increase markedly by any of the additions; sulphates were the dominant ions. Sulphur showed a significant effect on reducing soil pH. Available P and K in soil increased by inoculation with both types and sulphur application. Phosphorus increased available P but reduced available K. The combination of applying a mixture of both types + 100kg S and 13kg P/fed gave the highest uptake ofN, P and K by maize plants as well as their grain and stover yields. Type IT,' was generally superior to type I but its activities increased by combination of them. Application of 100 kg Sifed was enough to obtain satisfactory results whereas 200 kg Sifed gave the same effect of the lower rate in some cases and adversely affected in some others. The low P rate increased its efficiency by microbial activators and S application but the recommended P rate caused a significant increase in its effect on all plant parameters. In all cases, the efficiency of the high P rate was less than that of the low one. Generally, to obtain high quality and quantity of maize yield under such calcareous soil without harmful degradation of soil, it could be recommended the used two microbial activator types in combination with 100kg Sand 13kg P/fed.

Summary in Arabic.

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