Impact of Mineral Fertilizers with or without Bio-Fertilizers or Potassium Humate on some Soil Properties, Yield and Quality of Pea Plants Under Salt Affected Soil Conditions

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted in clay salt affected soil in Sahl El-Hussinia, El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, during two winter seasons2016/2017and2017/2018 to evaluate the effect of mineral fertilizers with different rates(10- 20- 40 kg/fed. N); (15- 25- 30 kg/fed. P2O5,) and (20 -30 – 40 kg/fed. K2O,) alone or with bio-fertilizersor potassium humate on some soil properties (available N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and E.C), yield and quality of pea plants. The results revealed that the studied the soil salinity EC (dSm-1) decreased in soil treated with potassium humate and bio-fertilizers with mineral fertilizers compared with control. The available soil macronutrients i.e. N, P, K, and micronutrients i.e. Fe, Mn and Zn (mg/kg soil) after harvesting in soils treated with biofertilizers and potassium humate with or without mineral fertilizers were increased with increasing mineral fertilizers (NPK) rates. Concerning, the relative increases of all estimated parameters pea plants in both seasons shows gradually increases as follows: potassium humate > bio-fertilizers > mineral fertilizers > control for plant height (cm) , number of branches/ plant, pods/ plants and weight 100 seeds. While, the bio-fertilizers > potassium humate > mineral fertilizers > control for No. of seeds /pods in both seasons. Also, using potassium humate, biofertilizers and mineral fertilizers led to significant increases for dry weight/ plant, fresh pod /plant (g) and yield of pods ton/fed. As well as, potassium humate and biofertilizers in combination with NPK chemical fertilizers increased P and K concentration in seeds. Mineral fertilizers (NPK) combined with or without potassium humate and bio-fertilizers increased on Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations in pea seeds in both seasons .The micronutrients were increased with increasing rate of chemical fertilizers as compared without bio-fertilizers or potassium humate. The interaction between all treatments and mineral fertilizers rates led to significant increase in carbohydrate and proline contents of seeds, while the total sugar content in pea plants was unsignificant. Further, combined application of potassium humate and inorganic fertilizers improved the soil properties. This characterizes the synergistic effect of potassium humate and biofertilizers combined with mineral fertilizers thereby signifying that integrated use of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers helps in upgrading soil health.