Effect of Humic Acid, Biofertilizers and Mineral Phosphate on Soil Microbial Activity and Productivity of Pea Plants under Toshka Conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Soil Fertility and Microbiology Department, Desert Research Center, El-Mataria, Cairo, Egypt

2 Plant Production Dept., Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted during the winter season of 2015/2016 & 2016/2017, at Toshka Research Station - Desert Research Center. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of humic acid (HA) at rates of 0, 4 and 8 kg / fed. combined with phosphate dissolving bacteria(PDB) and mineral phosphate fertilizer at rates of 100, 90, 80 and 70% P2O5 of the recommended dose in commercial production on pea plants. Treatment with humic acid at 8 kg / fed. combined with inoculation of  PDB and 100% of mineral phosphate fertilizer significantly increased the total microbial count, Bacillus megaterium count,  CO2 evolution , organic carbon and phosphatase and dehydrogenase enzymes activities. The bio-fertilizer treatments (PDB) showed a clear superiority when added in combination with the phosphate fertilizer and humic acid compared to the results of using a mixture of humic acid and superphosphate only. Adding of humic acid and superphosphate with the presence of phosphate dissolving bacteria improved most of the vegetative growth characteristics of plants. Yield components had the highest positive response to humic acid combined with mineral fertilizer percentage with phosphate-dissolving bacteria. The highest concentration of N, P, and K were with the use of humic acid at (8 kg), phosphate-dissolving bacteria and 100% phosphate fertilization P2O5.
 The study revealed that using 8 kg HA/fed in combination with PDB and high level of P2O5 as a fertilizer application to improve soil properties, vegetative growth, mineral content and yield of pea plants in new soils was recommended. 

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