Effect of Gypsum, K-Humate and Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria on Improvement of Soil Properties and Productivity of Wheat and Maize Irrigated by Saline Water

Abstract

Because of water shortage in North Nile Delta, Egypt, some farmers have to irrigate their crops by saline water. So, soils and/or plants are preferred to be treated by some amendments to alleviate the hazardous effects of salt stress. Two field experiments were conducted at Sakha Agric. Res. Station Farm, Kafr Elsheikh Gov., Egypt, to study the effect of gypsum (50, 75 and 100% of gypsum requirement, 8.2 t ha-1), K-humate (5 and 10 kg ha-1) and inoculation with plant growth-promoting-rhizobacteria (PGPR), (108-109 colony, ml-1) on soil properties and productivity of wheat (2018/19) and maize (2019) irrigated by saline water (0.7 and 2.43 dSm-1). The results revealed that plant height, grain filling, grain and straw yields of wheat and maize were negatively affected by irrigation water salinity. Also, irrigation water salinity clearly affected soil ECe and ESP, while it slightly affected soil bulk density and total porosity. Also, soil ECe, ESP, bulk density and total porosity were slightly affected by application of gypsum, K-humate and PGPR. The biomass yield, plant height and grain filling in both crops were positively affected by gypsum application, whereas it alleviated the adverse effects of salinity on crop growth. Also, K-humate with PGPR positively affected the crop yield and its attributes. The bio amendments alleviated the harmful effects of salinity stress on both crops. Finally, 100% gypsum combined with higher rate of K-humate and PGPR treatments was more effective treatment on plant growth and alleviated the harmful effects of salinity stress on plant growth.