Effect of Integration Vermicompost and Nano-Fertilizer on Fig Seedlings Growth and Soil Health

Abstract

This study was conducted with the aim of making a new approach to plant fertilization based on nano-fertilizers and vermicompost and its positive effect on soil health. This work was carried out in the experimental research shade house of National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt during (2020- 2021). For this purpose, healthy 5 years old fig seedlings sultani cultivar. The seedlings were planted in black polyethylene pots with 30 cm diameter fooled. with use 10 kg washed sand mixed very good with use three concentrations of Vermicompost 500 -1000 and 1500g/seedling ,with adding varied doses of Nano-NPK(20:20:20) fertilizers (200, and 400ppm) as foliar application. Nano-NPK fertilizers treatments were applied two times monthly during active season, also fig seedlings were irrigated twice weekly .At the end of each growth season, leaves were collected to record some vegetative parameters (leaf fresh and dry weight and leaf area) then these samples of leaves were dried and digested to determine nutrient statues under tested treatments. Moreover, Estimation of microbial and enzymatic activities of vermicompost. Obtained results indicated that, substituting half recommended dose of spraying with Nano-fertilizers at (400 ppm) positively promote most of recorded vegetative growth parameters and without any deficiency symptoms on seedlings. Also, The microbial and enzyme activities of the soil are closely related to the organic matter content and influenced by all practices applied for soil including adding fertilizers, emphasize these impacts of organic matter as vermicompost and nano-fertilizers. Besides, all treatments (vermicompost + nano-fertilizers) resulted in increasing enzyme activity comparing with control treatment. Also, indicated that at the same level of nano-fertilizers, increasing vermicompost dosses lead to increase enzyme activity particularly in level 200ppm of fertilizers.

Response of Seedlings of Three Cultivars of Mandarin to Spraying and Addition of Nano-Fertilizer

“…Necessary for growth, which was reflected positively in increasing the leaf area. This is consistent with what was reported by [20] in olives and [21] in figs in terms of increasing the leaf area of seedlings treated with NPK nanofertilizer. The results in the previous tables (3)(4)(5) showed a significant increase in the leaf content of mineral elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium).…”

“…In addition, the high entry of nutrient particles into the nanofertilizer requires the withdrawal of important nutrients to complete the process of photosynthesis. The increase in elements N, P, and K may also be due to the role of nanofertilizer in encouraging vital processes in the plant and the formation of enzymes involved in the process of photosynthesis, which encourages the growth of seedlings and thus increases the demand for nutrients, increasing their concentration in the plant [4,6,22] .These results, in terms of increased levels of elements in plant leaves when sprayed with nanofertilizer, agree with [9,14,23,21,24].…”

“…It also stimulates the process of opening and closing stomata, which increases the efficiency of the transpiration process and then works to increase the elements absorbed by the roots. Nanoparticles also play an important role in increasing the speed of biological reactions as a result of the elements contained in them, including iron, which stimulates plant growth and also works to regulate enzyme and hormonal content and activates the process of photosynthesis [21]. The results showed that spraying with nanofertilizer significantly affected the concentrations of nutrients in the leaves (Tables 3, 4, and 5), as the increase in the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and zinc in the leaves of seedlings treated with nanofertilizer may be due to Direct absorption of these elements in the nanofertilizer through the leaves, which leads to an increase in its concentration in them.…”

Effect of Spraying and Adding Nanofertilizer on Three Types of Mandarin Seedlings

“…Effect of cultivars and the two adding methods: spraying and ground fertilization with nanofertilizer and their interactions on the average iron content of leaves (mg.kg -1 .dry weight). terms of increased levels of elements in plant leaves when sprayed with nanofertilizer, agree with what [22] found in pomegranates and [23] in figs and [24,25] in mango and [26] in olive and [27].…”