%0 Journal Article
%T Significance of Some Soil Amendments and Phosphate Dissolving Bacteria to Enhance the Availability of Phosphate in Calcareous Soil
%A Ahmed A. Khalil
%J ISRN Soil Science
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/438949
%X A field experiment was carried-out on a private farm at the Salah El-Din village, El-Bostan district, Nobaria, El-Behera Governorate, Egypt. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best combination of rock phosphate (RP), sulphur (S), organic manure, and phosphate dissolving bacteria (PDB) inoculation to enhance the availability of phosphorous from rock phosphate and their effects on yield of broad bean plants (cv. Luz doe Otono L.). It was found that either sulphur application or PDB inoculation with RP had a significant effect on broad bean yield and its quality. Application of RP and different soil amendments individually or together increased N, P, and K contents in straw and seeds of broad bean plant. The highest contents of the studied nutrients were found when the plants were fertilized by a mixture of RP and different soil amendments. Results also showed the important role of organic matter, sulphur, and PDB for releasing phosphorus from rock phosphate. The combination of soil amendments with RP as a natural P-source, has the possibility of saving significant quantities of industrialized inorganic phosphate fertilizers. 1. Introduction Broad bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the most important legumes in Egypt. It is intensively used by both human and animals in many countries worldwide. It is considered as a cheap diet containing high protein and energy. Therefore, efforts to improve the quality and quantity of the vegetable crop are important. Under Egyptian soil conditions, phosphorus availability in soil is governed by many factors (pH, CaCO3, organic matter, and clay contents). In spite of the considerable addition of P to these soils, the level of available phosphorus decreases sharply after a short period since application. Under alkaline soil conditions, the available phosphorus in the added fertilizer is rapidly transformed to tricalcium phosphate which is unavailable to the plants [1]. Rock phosphate is the main source for producing phosphate fertilizers. The direct application of apatite Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,F) instead of phosphate fertilizers is not suitable, especially in soils with a high pH. However, using acidic materials such as sulphur and sulphuric acid, or using rock phosphate combined with phosphate dissolving bacteria (PDB) such as Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, Burkholderia, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Rhizobium, Erwinia, Serratia, Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, Acinetobacter, and Flavobacterium which can produce some organic acids will release phosphorous from rock phosphate and can replace P-fertilizers. Gluconic acid was reported as the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.soil.science/2013/438949/