Abstract
The effect of different fertilizing systems on the seed yield and phosphorus uptake in annual medic (Medicago scutellata cv. Robinson) was examined at two locations under dry farming conditions in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2009. Experiments were conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications; the treatments consisted of control (no fertilizer), chemical fertilizer, biological fertilizer and different combinations of chemical and biological fertilizing systems. The results showed that application of different fertilizing systems had a highly significant effect on the number of pods per plant. The highest values were obtained in the treatment using the urea chemical fertilizer + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria + mycorrhiza. The highest soil seed bank was recorded in the nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria treatment; it increased the number of seeds by approximately 50 percent compared to the control (only 134 pod containing seeds). The highest pod yield was obtained after applying nitrogen-fixing bacteria + mycorrhiza (445 kg/ha), the lowest yield in the control treatment (266 kg/ha). In general, under the conditions of this experiment, the seed yield of annual medic var. Robinson receiving nitrogen-fixing + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria out-yielded other fertilizing treatments. This indicates a synergistic interaction between these groups of bacteria that increases seed yield, the soil seed bank as well as the seed phosphorus uptake of this plant species under dry farming conditions.
Highlights
In rotation with other agricultural crops, annual medics have a better water use efficiency; this feature makes them a suitable crop in rotation with wheat in dry climatic conditions (Weston, 1996)
The experimental treatments consisted of control, chemical, biological and integrated fertilizing systems as follows: T0: Control T1: Chemical fertilizer (135 kg/ha urea fertilizer + 185 kg/ha triple superphosphate fertilizer)* T2: Urea chemical fertilizer + phosphorous-solubilizing bacteria T3: Urea chemical fertilizer + mycorrhiza T4: Urea chemical fertilizer + phosphorous solubilizing bacteria + mycorrhiza T5: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria + triple superphosphate fertilizer T6: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorous-solubilizing bacteria T7: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria + mycorrhiza T8: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorous-solubilizing bacteria + mycorrhiza *Chemical fertilizers triple superphosphate and urea were applied according to a soil test to fulfill the requirements of the crop in each site
The highest values were obtained in the treatment using the urea chemical fertilizer + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria + mycorrhiza (T4), followed by that using nitrogen-fixing bacteria + mycorrhiza (T7) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria + mycorrhiza (T8)
Summary
In rotation with other agricultural crops, annual medics have a better water use efficiency; this feature makes them a suitable crop in rotation with wheat in dry climatic conditions (Weston, 1996). No research has been done on the effect of biological fertilizers on the growth, yield, and conservation of the soil seed bank of annual medic. The present experiment was designed to study the effect of different fertilizing systems on the pod and seed yield as well as on the phosphorus uptake in annual medic
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