Effect of Bio-fertilizers as a Partial Substitute for Nitrogen Mineral Fertilizer on Vegetative Growth, Leaf Mineral Content, Yield and Fruit Quality of Valencia’ Orange Trees
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: This study was carried out during two successive seasons, (2014 and 2015) in a private orchard located at Ismailia governorate, Egypt. The study was conducted on 10years old orange trees of Valencia oranges, budded on Volkamer lemon rootstock grown on sandy soil under drip irrigation system planted at 3.5 X 6 m apart and uniform in shape and received the common horticultural practices, except mineral nitrogen fertilization Combinations effect of some levels from mineral nitrogen fertilization (25, 50 and 75 %) from two sources of nitrogen (ammonium slupate and ammonium nitrate) with the 75, 50 and 25 % from bio-fertilization a liquid microbial mixture (composed of three different microbes (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus circulans) at ratio 1:1:1) compared with 100% mineral nitrogen fertilization (control) from the two sources on vegetative growth, leaf mineral content, yield , fruit quality nitrate and nitrite content of Valenica oranges were investigated. The obtained results showed that, combined application of N through 25% ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate as a recommended rate plus 75% bio- fertilizer significantly increased leaf content of N, and P contents as well as improved yield, number of fruit/tree and L- ascorbic acid fruit content . Also the same treatments significantly reduced peel thickness as well as nitrate and nitrite contents in fruit juice. Meanwhile the lowest values in the most measurements were recorded with mineral treatments without bio-fertilizer (control) and less mineral nitrogen fertilization (25% ammonium nitrate) with fertilizationcompared with other treatments
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7117510025