Effect of Cobalt Application and Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on Growth and Some Nutrients Content of Barley and Egyptian Clover Plants Grown in Calcareous Soil

Abstract

Two pot experiments were carried out at the green-house of Faculty of agriculture (Saba Bash), Alexandria University to study the effect of cobalt applied with seeds through soaking in relation to mycorrhiza inoculation on growth and quality of barely and clover as forage crops under calcareous soil conditions during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 growing seasons, respectively. The seeds of barley and clover were soaked in continuously aerated solution of different cobalt concentrations (0.0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5 mg/l) using cobalt sulphate salt and inoculated with two mycorrhizal spices (G. intraradiaces and G. macrocarpium) separately before sowing.The obtained results showed that soaking seeds of barley and clover (forage crops) in cobalt solutions and mycorrhizal inoculation had significant effects on all growth parameters and the tested nutrients content in the plants of the two crops.The Co significantly increased the contents of N, P, K, and Co in shoot and root of the tested plants. It was found that G. intraradiaces was more effective than G. macrocarpium for the studied traits. Also, the recommended cobalt concentration for barley crops was lower (0.6 mg/l) than that for E.Clover (1.2mg/l). However, Co concentration above 0.6 and 1.2 mg/l for barley and E. Clove, respectively, reduced growth of plants.