Berseem Clover Productivity in the Presence of a Combination of Biofertilizers, Organic Fertilizer and Biochar Under Sandy Soil Conditions

Abstract

Several studies have shown that berseem clover is one of the most important winter leguminous crops as fodder for animals due to its high content of crude protein. In Egypt, its cultivation is abundant in soils whether ancient or reclaimed soils. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of biofertilizers on berseem clover productivity cultivated under sandy soil conditions in Ismailia Research Station, Ismailia Governorate. To reach such aim, an identified actinomycete strain (Streptomyces luteogriseus-08) was used with a mixture of biochar, and organic fertilizer in several different treatments compared to rhizobia. The experimental results revealed that the percentages of crude protein in the two cuts indicated that the 2nd cutting was always higher in the percentage of crude protein than the 1st cutting. On planting and treating, the microbial total counts, dehydrogenase activity and NPK contents were developed in the soil samples collected from the 15 fertilizer treatments compared to the control-soil sample. In addition, treatments containing rhizobium as a biofertilizer showed a high percentage of crude protein compared to rhizobium-free treatments. The presence of organic fertilizer was more suitable for improving the growth of berseem clover plants compared to biochar. Combination of Rhizobium legumin Sarum bv. trifolii , Streptomyces luteogriseus-08, organic fertilizer, biochar in the presence of low nitrogen fertilizer (T16 treatment) gave the highest numbers of nodules, dry weight of nodules, and fresh weight of berseem clover nodules. Dry and fresh weights of berseem clover shoots, crude protein (%) and expected yield (Ton/Feddan) were higher in T16 compared to the control and the other 14 treatments.