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
References
[1]
R. W. Miller, R. L. Danhaue, and J. U. Miller, An Introduction to Soil and Plant Growth, Prentice Hall International, London, UK, 6th edition.
[2]
P. Illmer and F. Schinner, “Solubilization of inorganic phosphates by microorganisms isolated from forest soils,” Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 389–395, 1992.
[3]
S.-T. Liu, L.-Y. Lee, C.-Y. Tai et al., “Cloning of an Erwinia herbicola gene necessary for gluconic acid production and enhanced mineral phosphate solubilization in Escherichia coli HB101: nucleotide sequence and probable involvement in biosynthesis of the coenzyme pyrroloquinoline quinone,” Journal of Bacteriology, vol. 174, no. 18, pp. 5814–5819, 1992.
[4]
M. Lotfollahi, M. J. Malakout, K. Khavazi, and H. Besharat, “Effect of different methods of direct application of rock phosphate on the yield of feed corn in Karaj region,” Journal of Soil and Water, vol. 12, pp. 11–15, 2001.
[5]
S. K. Subehia, “Direct and residual effect of Udaipur rock phosphate as a source of P to wheat soybean cropping System in a Western Himalayan soil,” Research on Crop, vol. 2, pp. 297–300, 2001.
[6]
V. Kumar, R. J. Gilkes, and M. D. A. Bolland, “The residual value of rock phosphate and superphosphate from field sites assessed by glasshouse bioassay using three plant species with different external P requirements,” Fertilizer Research, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 195–207, 1992.
[7]
S. A. M. El-Sayed, “Influence of Rhizobium and phosphate solubilization bacteria on nutrient uptake and yield of lentil in New Valley,” Egyptian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 39, pp. 175–186, 1999.
[8]
K. Nassar, M. Y. Gebrail, and K. M. Khalil, “Efficiency of phosphate dissolving bacteria (PDB) combined with different forms and rates of P fertilization on the quantity and quality of Faba bean (Vicia Faba L.),” Menoufya Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 25, pp. 1335–1349, 2000.
[9]
A. Cottenie, M. Verloo, L. Kiekens, G. Velghe, and R. Camerlynck, “Chemical Analysis of Plants and Soils,” Lab. Anal. Agro-chem. Faculty of Agriculture, State University Gent, Gent, Belgium, 1982.
[10]
A. L. Page, R. H. Miller, and D. R. Keeny, Methods of Soil Analysis—part 2: Chemical and Microbiological Properties, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wis, USA, 2nd edition, 1982.
[11]
H. D. Chapman and P. F. Pratt, “Methods of Analysis for Soils, Plants and Waters,” The University of California's Division of Agriculture Sciences, Davis, Calif, USA, 1961.
[12]
E. Troug and K. H. Mayer, “Improvements in the Denige; chloromeric method for phosphorous and srsenic,” Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, vol. 1, pp. 136–139, 1949.
[13]
A.O.A.C., Official Methods of Analysis, Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, Washington, DC, USA, 15 edition, 1990.
[14]
K. A. Gomez and A. A. Gomez, Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, USA, 1984.
[15]
K. Mengel and E. A. Kirkby, “Principles of Plant Nutrition,” International Potash Institute, Bern, Switzerland, 1987.
[16]
H. Marschner, Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, Harcourt Brace and Company, London, UK, 1998.
[17]
A. A. Abdul-Galil, E. M. El-Naggar, H. A. Awad, and T. S. Mokhtar, “Response of two faba bean cultivars to different N, P and K levels under sandy soil conditions,” Zagazig Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 5, pp. 1787–1808, 2003.
[18]
F. A. Abdo, “Effect of bio-fertilizer with phosphate dissolving bacteria under different levels of phosphorus fertilization on mung bean plant,” Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 30, pp. 187–211, 2003.
[19]
B. S. Kundu and A. C. Gaur, “Rice response to inoculation with N2-fixing and P-solubilizing microorganisms,” Plant and Soil, vol. 79, no. 2, pp. 227–234, 1984.
[20]
M. Monib, I. Hosny, and Y. B. Besada, “Seed inoculation of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) and effect on nutrient uptake,” Soil Biology and Conservation of the Biosphere, vol. 2, pp. 723–732, 1984.
[21]
S. A. Azer, A. M. Awad, Sadek et al., “A comparative study on the effect of elements and bio-phosphatic fertilizers on the response of Faba bean (Vicia Faba L.) to P fertilization,” Egyptian Journal of Applied Science, vol. 18, pp. 324–363, 2003.
[22]
M. A. Ewais, “Response of vegetative growth, seed yield and quality of peanut grown on a sandy soil to application of organic manure, inoculation with rhizobium and phosphate dissolving bacteria,” Egyptian Journal of Applied Science, vol. 21, pp. 794–816, 2006.
[23]
E. M. Abd El Lateef, M. M. Selim, and T. G. Behairy, “Response of some oil crops to bio-fertilization with phosphate dissolving bacteria associated with different levels of phosphatic fertilization,” Bulletin of National Research Center (NRC), vol. 23, pp. 193–202, 1998.
[24]
A. M. Hewedy, “Effect of sulphur application and biofertilizer phosphorein on growth and productivity of tomato,” Minufiya Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 24, pp. 1063–1078, 1999.
[25]
H. A. El-Shamma, “Effect of chemical and bio-fertilizer on growth, seeds and quality of new cv. of dry bean,” Annals of Agricultural Science, vol. 38, pp. 461–468, 2000.
[26]
T. G. A. Ali, Effect of some agriculture treatments on growth and dry seeds yield of bean [M. S. thesis], Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, Minia Governorate, Egypt, 2002.
[27]
F. S. Salem, “Effect of some soil amendment on the clayey soil properties and some crops production,” Menoufya Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 28, pp. 1705–1715, 2003.
[28]
F. S. Salem, M. Y. Gebrail, M. O. Easa, and M. Abd El-Warth, “Raising the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization for wheat plants under salt affected soils by applying some soil amendments,” Menoufya Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 29, pp. 1059–1073, 2004.
[29]
S. M. Abdel Aziz, F. S. Salem, M. A. Reda, and L. A. Hussien, “Influence of some amendments on the clayey soil properties and crop production,” Fayaum Journal of Agricultural Research and Development, vol. 12, pp. 196–204, 1998.
[30]
S. E. A. Mohamed and S. S. S. El-Ganaini, “Effect of organic, mineral and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and chemical constituents as well as the anatomy of broad bean (Vicia Faba L.) in reclaimed soil,” Egyptian Journal of Applied Science, vol. 18, pp. 38–63, 2003.
[31]
A. Abd El Latif, M. Maged, A. Ewais, A. A. Mahmoud, and M. M. Hanna, “The response of maize to organic manure, bio-fertilizer and foliar spray with citric acid under sandy soil condition,” Egyptian Journal of Applied Science, vol. 20, pp. 661–681, 2005.
[32]
B. Y. El-Koumey, E. S. Abou Husien, and F. S. El-Shafie, “Influence of phosphatic fertilizers on NPK and some heavy metals in soil and plant,” Zagazig Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 20, pp. 2029–2044, 1993.
[33]
H. Marschner, Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, Harcourt Brace Javanovich, London, UK, 1986.
[34]
S. N. Sahu and B. B. Jana, “Enhancement of the fertilizer value of rock phosphate engineered through phosphate-solubilizing bacteria,” Ecological Engineering, vol. 15, no. 1-2, pp. 27–39, 2000.
[35]
J. Evans, L. McDonald, and A. Price, “Application of reactive phosphate rock and sulphur fertilisers to enhance the availability of soil phosphate in organic farming,” Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, vol. 75, no. 1–3, pp. 233–246, 2006.
