American Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization Technology - Current Issue

Effect of Different Forms and Levels of Nitrogen on Vegetative Growth and Leaf Nutrient Status of Nursery Seedling Rootstocks of Peach

26 May, 2012

A field experiment was carried out in nursery of Seed and Plant Institute of Karaj (Iran) to determine the effect of various forms and levels of nitrogen application on vegetative growth and leaf nutrient status of two peach seedling rootstocks (Missouri and Yazdi). The study was carried out in two experimental years, 2009 and 2010. Seedlings were planted per plot at the end of January 2009. In addition, Dixiered cultivar as scion was grafted on studied seedlings rootstocks at the end of August 2009, respectively. For each experimental year, soil application of nitrogen fertilizers were added once at the beginning of April and repeated every 14 days. Each treatment was replied 7 times. The results of first experimental year (2009) showed that the application of 600 kg sulfate ammonium ha^-1 had highest dry weight of shoot and root production and leaf N concentration of Missouri and Yazdi seedling rootstocks. However, the result of second experimental year (2010) showed that the application of 200 kg sulfate ammonium ha^-1 for Missouri and Yazdi rootstocks with Dixiered as peach scion cultivar showed highest shoot length, shoot diameter and leaf surface. Furthermore, The DOP and to ΣDOP index were estimated for the diagnosis of the leaf mineral status of the trees. According to ΣDOP index (for 2009+2010), application of 400 kg sulfate ammonium ha^-1 for Missouri rootstock with Dixiered as peach scion cultivar showed better balanced nutritional values, the weakest balanced nutritional values belonged to the Yazdi rootstock (with Dixiered as peach scion cultivar) by application of 600 kg urea ha^-1.

Influences of Inoculation Methods and Phosphorus Levels on Nitrogen Fixation Attributes and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max L.) At Haru, Western Ethiopia

26 May, 2012

An experiment consisting of four inoculation methods and four phosphorus levels was conducted under field condition in western Ethiopia to identify appropriate inoculation method and optimum phosphorus level which enhance nitrogen fixation attributes and yield of Clark 63K soybean. None inoculation, seed, soil and seed+soil inoculation methods were combined with 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P ha^-1 and were arranged in factorial RCBD design. The crop was assessed for nodule number, nodule volume, nodule dry weight, shoot nitrogen content, number of pod bearing branches, shoot dry matter, plant height, number of pod, pod length, number of seed per pod, above ground biomass, seed yield, hundred seed weight and harvest index. The result showed that interaction effect of the main factors significantly (p<0.05) influenced nodule volume, nodule dry weight, number of pod and shoot dry matter per plant as well as shoot nitrogen content. Inoculation method did not significantly (p>0.05) influence nodule volume, nodule dry weight, shoot dry matter and number of pod per plant as well as shoot nitrogen content when the soybean was grown without phosphorus. Seed, soil and seed+soil inoculations significantly (p<0.05) increased plant height, number of pod bearing branches per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, above ground biomass, seed yield over the check. Seed and seed+soil inoculations showed superiority to none inoculation and soil inoculation in plant height, shoot dry matter, number of pod per plant and seed yield. The three phosphorus levels (20, 40 and 60 kg P ha^-1) resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher nodule number, nodule volume and nodule dry weight per plant as well as shoot nitrogen content than unfertilized check in seed, soil and seed+soil inoculations. Seed, soil and seed+soil inoculations gave 26.12, 15.07 and 27.92% seed yield advantage over uninoculated check in that order. Moreover, fertilization of 20, 40 and 60 kg P ha^-1 had 16.67, 42.50 and 51.20% yield advantage over unfertilized treatment. When the crop was grown without inoculation and soil inoculation, 20 kg P ha^-1was enough for the soybean to accumulate higher shoot dry matter and number of pods per plant. However, for seed and seed+soil inoculations, 40 kg P ha^-1 was identified as optimum.

Response of Wheat Plants to Magnesium Sulphate Fertilization

26 May, 2012

Magnesium is an important fertilizer element in plant nutrition. Pot experiment was conducted at the greenhouse of the Micronutrients Project, Department of Fertilization Technology, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety Sakha 93 grown on loamy sand soil to asses the plant response to magnesium sulphate as soil amendment and foliar fertilization. The experiment followed the Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) and contained eight treatments in four replicates. The obtained data showed that concentration and uptake of macro and micronutrients were increased with both soil and foliar fertilization. Superior treatments realized best concentrations; uptake, Mg/P, K/Mg and Ca/Mg ratios in the shoot tissues were 120 kg ha^-1 MgSO₄ as soil addition or 5 g L^-1 in the spray solution as foliar fertilization. However, the treatments achieved highest dry biomass accumulation and plant height were 60 kg ha^-1 MgSO₄ or 5.0 g L^-1 in the spray solution. Accordingly, wheat plants grown on the Egyptian and similar soils are recommended to be supplied with magnesium fertilizers in order to achieve good growth and higher production.