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Multi Traits of Phosphate Solublizing Bacterial and Fungal Isolates and Evaluation of Their Potential as Biofertilizer Agent for Coffee Production
Reshid Abafita Abawari,
Fasil Asefa Tuji,
Diriba Muleta Yadete
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
1-15
Received:
7 December 2020
Accepted:
17 December 2020
Published:
12 January 2021
Abstract: Exploitation of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and fungi as bioinoculants instead of chemical fertilizers is known to promote plant growth through the supply of plant nutrients. In view of this, the present investigation was planned to assess the phytobeneficial traits of phosphate solublizing bacterial and fungal isolates recovered from coffee arabica rhizosphere/ vermicompost and to determine their potential in growth promotion of coffee seedlings. They were isolated and purified following standard methods. A total number of 154 bacteria and 72 fungi were isolated from vermicompost and coffee rhizosphere. Out of these, twelve potent bacterial and nine fungal isolates were selected and investigated. Among twelve bacterial isolates, three of them showed significant potential to solubilize Ca3 (PO4)2 and had phytobeneficial traits, viz, indole acetic acid, NH3, HCN production and N-fixing ability. The three bacterial isolates (RCHVCB1, RScB1.19 and RMaB2.11) exhibited also remarkable tolerance to ecophysiological factors such as heavy metal, acidity and salinity. These potent isolates were selected for further identification based on morphological and biochemical characteristics and presumptively identified as genera of Pseudomonas (RCHVCB1) and Bacillus (RScB1.19 and RMaB2.11). Similarly, three fungal isolates with superior phosphate solubilizeation ability were characterized and identified as genera Penicillium (RSCF1.19) and Aspergillus (RCHVCF2 and RLVCF2). Consequently, these three efficient bacterial and fungal isolates were evaluated on the coffee seed germination on Petri dish based trial under laboratory condition. The results of inoculated seeds showed significant (p≤0.05) differences in germination rate and vigor index compared to the control. Among all inoculums RScB1.19, RMaB2.11+RSCF1.19 and RMaB2.11 + RLVCF2 showed significantly (p≤0.05) high germination rate (20.59%) over the control (13.33%). Moreover, a single inoculation of RLVCF2, RSCF1.19 and co-inoculation of RMaB2.11 with RLVCF2 also showed significant (p≤0.05) mean root length (1.31cm) and mean shoot length (1.48cm) over the control. These effective bacterial and fungal solublizers can be recommended under field condition as biofertilizer agent and reducing the cost required for chemical fertilizers and providing a step forward towards sustainable agriculture.
Abstract: Exploitation of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and fungi as bioinoculants instead of chemical fertilizers is known to promote plant growth through the supply of plant nutrients. In view of this, the present investigation was planned to assess the phytobeneficial traits of phosphate solublizing bacterial and fungal isolates recovered from cof...
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Manufacturing of Machine for Planting on Wide Ridges Without Tillage in Desert Soils
Adil Abd Elsamia Meselhy,
Mohamed Fathy Abou Youssef,
Ahmed El-Kot
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
16-37
Received:
14 November 2020
Accepted:
5 January 2021
Published:
15 January 2021
Abstract: This research was conducted during three winter seasons (2015-2016), (2016-2017) and (2017-2018) at Ras Sudr Research Station, South of Sinai Governorate, this region suffers from the problems of increasing salinity in soil and irrigation water, in addition to the high level of ground water. Therefore, the cultivation on wide ridges (raised-bed soil) was used for good soil leaching by storing large quantities of irrigation water in these wide ridges and easy drainage it from both sides of the ridges to the adjacent furrows. The wide ridges are considered one of the methods of remedy the rise in ground water level by raising the agricultural soil to a higher level, which helps to move the roots of plants away from the ground water level and to drain the irrigation water through the ridges sides to the adjacent furrows, which does not cause an increase in the ground water level. Also, conservation tillage (no-tillage) reducing the effect of salinity. So that a prototype of combined machine was manufactured which consisted of two units, the first unit to build ridges with the possibility to change the both of width and height of ridges. The second unit to sow wheat seeds on the ridges. The research treatments consisted of two tillage systems (traditional tillage system (TT) and conservation tillage system (CT) i.e., no-tillage), three ridge widths (50cm, 70cm and 90cm) and four ridge heights (0cm, 20cm, 35cm and 50 cm) where, the treatment of (0cm) was indicated to control treatment (flat soil). Also, the effect of three agriculture seasons was studied. Some parameters were measured or estimated as the following; actual field capacity (AFC), field efficiency (FE)), energy requirements (ER), pulling force (PF), fuel consumption rate (FCR), bulk density (BD), average infiltration rate (AIR), soil salinity (SS), water stored in the effective root zone (WS), water consumptive use in root zone (WC), water application efficiency (WA), wheat grain yield (WGY), water productivity (WP) and specific cost of production (SC). When using (CT) system and the largest cross section area of the ridges (90cm width x 50cm height) with continued application of this system for three consecutive seasons achieved the highest values of: (AFC=0.39 ha/h), (FE=93%), (WS=5773 m3/ha), (WC=4834 m3/ha), (WA=89%), (WGY=8.7 Mg/ha) and (WP=1.8 Mg/m3), in addition this treatment achieved the lowest values for both (SS=6.17 ds/m) and (SC=216 L.E/Mg) compared to the other treatments.
Abstract: This research was conducted during three winter seasons (2015-2016), (2016-2017) and (2017-2018) at Ras Sudr Research Station, South of Sinai Governorate, this region suffers from the problems of increasing salinity in soil and irrigation water, in addition to the high level of ground water. Therefore, the cultivation on wide ridges (raised-bed soi...
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Effect of Variable-Depth Tillage System on Energy Requirements for Tillage Operation and Productivity of Desert Soil
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
38-49
Received:
14 November 2020
Accepted:
5 January 2021
Published:
22 January 2021
Abstract: Tillage systems classified into two groups: conventional (CT) and conservation (CVT) tillage. The first group (CT), soil inverted and crop residues buried. (CT) has some disadvantages. Firstly, disturbing the soil unnecessarily in areas where the soil structure and condition is not required is wasteful of time and fuel. Secondly, incorrect tillage depth can cause damage to the soil structure, which can lead to the formation of a compaction layer. The second group, (CVT) defined as no-tillage with leaving at least 30% of the crop residue on the field. (CVT) improves the efficient usage of the natural resources of water and soil. However, (CVT) has some drawbacks such as not recommended if the soil has compaction problems. Recently a third group emerged, namely variable-depth tillage (VDT), or precision tillage technology optimizes soil physical properties only where the tillage needed by applying tillage at the required depth. (VDT) has been shown to reduce costs, labor, fuel consumption and energy requirements. To implement (VDT) system, it is necessary to determine and map soil penetration resistance, spatially and with depth through the soil profile. Therefore, an experiment conducted in a field to evaluate a technology to determine the tillage depth based on soil penetration resistant at different depths of soil. The field experiment area divided into five plots (no-tillage - uniform-depth tillage at 25cm tillage depth - uniform-depth tillage at 35cm tillage depth - uniform-depth tillage at 45cm tillage depth - variable-depth tillage) where, no-tillage indicated to (CVT), uniform-depth tillage indicated to (CT) and (VDT) indicated to precision tillage. The study measurements were fuel consumption rate (FCR), actual field capacity (AFC), power requirements (PR), specific energy (SE), operating costs (OC), soil penetration resistance (SPR) and sorghum yield (SY). The results showed that compaction layer occurred between the soil depths of 25cm and 35cm. Therefore, the (VDT) system was used at a tillage depth of 35cm. The average ratio from total field area that needed to till was about 47%. The results showed that (VDT) system caused a decreasing in the (FCR), (PR) and (OC) about 35%, 35% and 23%, respectively, compared to uniform-depth tillage system (UDT), while the (AFC) for VDT system increased about 21% compared to (UDT). The (SY) for (VDT) system increased about 53% compared to (UDT) at 25cm tillage depth, while the (SY) for VDT system decreased about 8% and 11% compared to (UDT) at 35cm and 45cm tillage depth, respectively.
Abstract: Tillage systems classified into two groups: conventional (CT) and conservation (CVT) tillage. The first group (CT), soil inverted and crop residues buried. (CT) has some disadvantages. Firstly, disturbing the soil unnecessarily in areas where the soil structure and condition is not required is wasteful of time and fuel. Secondly, incorrect tillage ...
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Effect of Living Mulch on Soil Conditions and Morphometrical Indices of Sweet Cherry Trees
Tatyana Gerasko,
Svitlana Pyda,
Iryna Ivanova
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
50-56
Received:
14 January 2021
Accepted:
22 January 2021
Published:
28 January 2021
Abstract: In order to maintain natural biocenosis and to create optimal conditions for reproducing soil fertility, it is necessary to keep the soil under living mulch in organic orchards. But the effect of the living mulch on soil properties and biometric indices of trees has not yet been fully investigated. This work aimed at examining the effects of living mulch (compared with standard mechanical cultivation) on soil moisture, soil temperature and biometric indices of sweet cherry trees in the arid conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. The work was conducted from 2014 to 2019 in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine in Zelene village near the city of Melitopol (46°46’N, 35°17’E). In organic sweet cherry (Prunus avium L./Prunus mahaleb) orchard standard mechanical cultivation (MC) was compared with living mulch - spontaneous vegetation cover (LM). The soil moisture at 20 cm depth was significantly greater under LM (an average of 3,9%), the soil temperatures under LM plots were lower (an average of 1.5°C over 6 years of research), in comparison to MC. It was established that the trunk cross sectional area of sweet cherry trees was significantly reduced under LM - by 1.2-2.1 times. However, LM contributed to an increase in the shoot growth efficiency – by 1.5-2.9 times, compared to MC. The ratio of total leaf area to the trunk cross sectional area was also significantly greater in conditions of LM, since 2015 by 1.3-2.5 times. The weather conditions of the year significantly influenced the formation of the biometric indices of the trees - Year×orchard floor management system interactions were significantly throughout all years of research. Investigated sweet cherry cultivars (Valery Chkalov and Dilemma) respondend to the floor management systems in a similar way – their biometric indices did not differ significantly.
Abstract: In order to maintain natural biocenosis and to create optimal conditions for reproducing soil fertility, it is necessary to keep the soil under living mulch in organic orchards. But the effect of the living mulch on soil properties and biometric indices of trees has not yet been fully investigated. This work aimed at examining the effects of living...
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Yield and Quality of Lettuce, Pumpkin, and Watermelon Varieties Grown Under Five Soil Management Practices
George Fouad Antonious,
Mohammad Hasan Dawood Todd Turley,
Eric Todd Turley,
Rance Bradley Paxton
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
57-65
Received:
12 January 2021
Accepted:
19 January 2021
Published:
9 February 2021
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of five soil treatments: municipal sewage sludge (SS), horse manure (HM), chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (Vermi), and no-mulch (NM) native soil on the yield and quality of three lettuce, Lactuca sativa varieties (Romaine, Bibb, and Butterhead), three watermelons varieties (Sugar Baby, Crimson, and Charleston Grey), and three pumpkin varieties (Renegade, Howden, and Gumdrop). The objectives were to assess plant yield and quality responses to different amendments and soil urease, invertase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity. At maturity, heads and fruits were harvested, weighed, and graded according to the USDA grades into Fancy, U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2. Overall lettuce yield obtained from SS and CM amended soils was significantly greater (783 and 772 g head-1, respectively) compared to Vermi amended soil (663 g head-1). Yield obtained from lettuce variety Romaine was superior (1.2 kg head-1) compared to Bibb and Butterhead varieties (0.51 and 0.49 kg head-1, respectively). Watermelons yield obtained from CM treatment was significantly greater (4.49 kg fruit-1) than that of NM control treatment (3 kg fruit-1). In addition, variety Charleston Grey produced the greatest fruit weight (4.9 kg fruit-1) compared to Crimson and Sugar Baby (3.26 and 3.06 kg fruit-1, respectively). Pumpkin yield obtained from SS treatment was significantly greater (4.4 kg fruit-1) than that of NM treatment (3.6 kg fruit-1). Pumpkin variety Howden produced the greatest pumpkin fruit weight (4.6 kg fruit-1) compared to Renegade and Gumdrop varieties (4.1 and 3.3 kg fruit-1, respectively). Soil properties fluctuated among treatments. The NO3 -N values were greater in HM and Vermi treatments, whereas NH4-N was greater in SS and CM treatments compared to the control. No significant differences were found in phosphorus content among treatments. Concentrations of K and C (557 and 1230 µg g-1 dry soil, respectively) were significantly greater in Vermi compared to the control treatments (336 and 1091 µg g-1 dry soil, respectively). Vermi increased soil urease activity compared to other treatments. All amendments tested increased soil invertase activity. Whereas CM increased alkaline phosphatase activity. These results combine information to crop producers looking for cost-effective organic fertilizers to meet the market needs.
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of five soil treatments: municipal sewage sludge (SS), horse manure (HM), chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (Vermi), and no-mulch (NM) native soil on the yield and quality of three lettuce, Lactuca sativa varieties (Romaine, Bibb, and Butterhead), three watermelons varieties (Sugar Baby, Cr...
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Variability of Biochar Performance Among Soil Amendments and Enzymes Activity
George Fouad Antonious,
Eric Todd Turley,
Debendra Shrestha Shrestha,
Mohammad Hasan Dawood
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
66-76
Received:
1 January 2021
Accepted:
15 January 2021
Published:
27 February 2021
Abstract: In a randomized complete block design, a field experiment was established with fourteen soil treatments: no mulch control (NM native soil), sewage sludge (SS), horse manure (HM), chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (Vermi), commercial organic fertilizer (Org), inorganic fertilizer (Inorg), and biochar added to NM, SS, HM, CM, Vermi, Org, and Inorg. The main objective was to assess the impact of various soil amendments (SA) and biochar added to SA on soil urease, invertase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity involved in N, C, and P cycles, respectively. The addition of biochar to Vermi amended soil increased urease and invertase activity by 54 and 50%, respectively compared to soil mixed with Vermi alone (not amended with biochar). CM amended with biochar did not increase alkaline phosphatase activity compared to CM alone. Acid phosphatases activity decreased by about 21% after the addition of biochar to Vermi amended soil. Biochar added to HM and NM soil reduced soil alkaline phosphatase activity by 49 and 41%, respectively. The effect of soil amendments before and after the addition of biochar on soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrates (NO3-), and ammonia (NH4+) concentration was also investigated. No significant differences were found among soil treatments in soil pH values. Whereas Vermi mixed with biochar (VermiBio) significantly increased EC values indicating an increase in soil total ions compared to all other amendments tested. Addition of CM to native soil increased (NH4+) ions by 7.8 times compared to the control treatment. Whereas biochar added to CM (CMBio) increased (NO3-) ions by 2.7 times. We concluded that the duality in biochar impact on soil enzymes activity and amendments tested in this investigation requires prior testing for reconsidering the use of biochar in agricultural systems.
Abstract: In a randomized complete block design, a field experiment was established with fourteen soil treatments: no mulch control (NM native soil), sewage sludge (SS), horse manure (HM), chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (Vermi), commercial organic fertilizer (Org), inorganic fertilizer (Inorg), and biochar added to NM, SS, HM, CM, Vermi, Org, and Inorg. T...
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