Effect of Soil Amendment with Olive Mill By-products under Soil Solarization on Growth and Productivity of Faba Bean and Their Symbiosis with Mycorrhizal Fungi

Field experiments were carried out at JUST agricultural research center during 1999-2000 growing season to evaluate the effects of soil amendment with olive mill by-products (Jift) on growth of faba bean and their symbiosis with VA fungi. Soil was amended with Jift at different levels (Jift: Soil; 0:10, 1:9, 2:8, 3:7 and 4:6) and exposed to solarization, methyl bromide and fungicide treatments. A split plot design with three replications was used, in which soil treatments (solarization, methyl bromide, fungicide and untreated control) were assigned to main plots and soil-Jift mixtures to sub plots. Our data indicated that the maximum seed yield (2943 kg ha 1) was achieved under soil mixtures treated with fungicide, followed by those which treated with methyl bromide (2662 kg ha 1) and untreated control (2343 kg ha 1). When Jift was considered as main factor, seed yield was found to be increased as Jift level was increased in soil mixtures. Even so, seed yield (2861 kg ha 1) at the highest Jift level (3:7) was not considerably different from the yield at the rate of 2:8 (2998 kg ha 1). Phosphorus nutrition may be enhanced with Jift amendment remarkably for soils branded by low organic matter contents. Mycorrhizal fungi population and symbiosis with the legume crops could be increased when Jift was added to the soil, particularly under soil sterilization practices.