TY - JOUR
T1 - Integrated use of bio-organic fertilizers for enhancing soil fertility–plant nutrition, germination status and initial growth of corn (Zea Mays L.)
AU - Hafez, Mohamed
AU - Popov, Alexander I.
AU - Rashad, Mohamed
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the Colleagues of Department of Soil Science and Soil Ecology, Institute of Earth Sciences of St. Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia; Colleagues Department of Land and Water Technologies, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Alexandria, Egypt; and Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector; Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - The need for cheap and affordable alternate sources of plant nutrient inputs to boost the nutrient level of degraded arable farmlands has been a major concern for soil scientists, agronomists, and local farmers. In 2018, a greenhouse and laboratory pot experiment was carried out under control conditions for 21 weeks to evaluate the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (Azospirillium brasilense), spent grain (SG) organic wastes from the beer industry, and chemical fertilizer (CF) on the soil fertility–plant nutrition, corn (Zea Mays L.) germination rate in calcareous soil. The treatments consisted of CK (control), SG (spent grain, 20 g kg
−1 soil), Az (Azospirillium seed inoculation), CF (100% of NPK recommended fertilizers), bio-organic (Az with SG), bio-mineral (Az with CF), and organo-mineral (50% of SG +50% of CF). These treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Results showed that after 10 and 21 weeks, SG application significantly increased soil organic carbon by 69% and 67.8%, total nitrogen (TN) by 87.66% and 85.44%, and raised available P (P) by 75.7% and 87.23%, respectively. The final germination percentage (FGP), germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) and plant height were significantly higher in the amended pots than that of the control pots after 21 days of planting. The SG with Az treatments had the highest GI, CVG, and FGP of 9.23, 0.19 day
−1, and 100 %, respectively, while the least values were obtained in the CF 2.37, 0.12 day
−1, and 61.6%, respectively. The highest values of N/P ratio, available Fe
2＋, Zn
2+, and Mn
2+ were 401, 20.35 mg kg
−1, 7.27 mg kg
−1, and 16.58 mg kg
−1 respectively, as well as bio-fertilizers enhanced the dehydrogenase and urease enzymes by 1117.3 μg TPF ml
−1, and 275.4 mg NH
3
−Hg
−1h
−1 respectively, after 21 weeks of seed sowing. The final results among all treatments were in the order of SG > Bio-organic > Az > Organo-mineral > Bio-mineral > CF > CK. In conclusion, the application of SG and Az is recommended to improve TN and P use efficiencies, micro-nutrients uptake, plant seed germination performance of maize, and enhancement of calcareous soil properties.
AB - The need for cheap and affordable alternate sources of plant nutrient inputs to boost the nutrient level of degraded arable farmlands has been a major concern for soil scientists, agronomists, and local farmers. In 2018, a greenhouse and laboratory pot experiment was carried out under control conditions for 21 weeks to evaluate the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (Azospirillium brasilense), spent grain (SG) organic wastes from the beer industry, and chemical fertilizer (CF) on the soil fertility–plant nutrition, corn (Zea Mays L.) germination rate in calcareous soil. The treatments consisted of CK (control), SG (spent grain, 20 g kg
−1 soil), Az (Azospirillium seed inoculation), CF (100% of NPK recommended fertilizers), bio-organic (Az with SG), bio-mineral (Az with CF), and organo-mineral (50% of SG +50% of CF). These treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Results showed that after 10 and 21 weeks, SG application significantly increased soil organic carbon by 69% and 67.8%, total nitrogen (TN) by 87.66% and 85.44%, and raised available P (P) by 75.7% and 87.23%, respectively. The final germination percentage (FGP), germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) and plant height were significantly higher in the amended pots than that of the control pots after 21 days of planting. The SG with Az treatments had the highest GI, CVG, and FGP of 9.23, 0.19 day
−1, and 100 %, respectively, while the least values were obtained in the CF 2.37, 0.12 day
−1, and 61.6%, respectively. The highest values of N/P ratio, available Fe
2＋, Zn
2+, and Mn
2+ were 401, 20.35 mg kg
−1, 7.27 mg kg
−1, and 16.58 mg kg
−1 respectively, as well as bio-fertilizers enhanced the dehydrogenase and urease enzymes by 1117.3 μg TPF ml
−1, and 275.4 mg NH
3
−Hg
−1h
−1 respectively, after 21 weeks of seed sowing. The final results among all treatments were in the order of SG > Bio-organic > Az > Organo-mineral > Bio-mineral > CF > CK. In conclusion, the application of SG and Az is recommended to improve TN and P use efficiencies, micro-nutrients uptake, plant seed germination performance of maize, and enhancement of calcareous soil properties.
KW - Spent grain
KW - Germination
KW - Biological effects
KW - Soil fertility
KW - Bio-organic fertilizers
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352186420316291
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098136190&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.eti.2020.101329
DO - 10.1016/j.eti.2020.101329
M3 - Article
VL - 21
JO - Environmental Technology and Innovation
JF - Environmental Technology and Innovation
SN - 2352-1864
M1 - 101329
ER -