Response of maize vegetative growth and yield to partial n-mineral replacement by biological nitrogen fixation under different soil moisture stresses [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This study aims to minimize the possible adverse fears of human health and environmental risks resulted from the used mineral fertilizers, particularly the new varieties of maize plants that are classified as excessive nitrogenous use. To achieve this target a field experiment was conducted on a clayey soil cultivated with maize (Zea mays L.) at EI Wanysa village, Itsa district, EI Fayoum Governorate, during the summer season of 2004. Partial replacement of 75, 50 and 25 % of the recommended N-mineral dose for maize was carried out using seed inoculated with Notroben (Azospirillum brasilense) as biological nitrogen fixation bacteria under the different available soil moisture depletions of 30, 50 and 70 %. Vegetative growth parameters (plant height, ear length and diameter), crop yield (grain and straw), grain quality (100 kernel weight and protein percent) and some nutrients uptake (N, P and K) by plant were taken as criteria for evaluating the applied treatments.

Summary in Arabic.

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