Role of Biofertilizers in Improving Cowpea Productivity Cultivated in Sandy Soil

Abstract

Cowpea is one of the fast-growing legume crops during the summer and is well suited to the summer environmental conditions in Egypt. In addition, it is a high-quality crop for feeding sheep and cattle, also very important fodder for dairy cows. In this study, an experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of biofertilizers on cowpea productivity cultivated under sandy soil conditions at Ismailia Governorate. To reach such aim, an identified Streptomyces strain was used with a mixture of biochar, and organic fertilizer in several different treatments compared to bradyrhizobia. The experiment was carried out at the Ismailia Research Station, ARC. Results showed that the number of nodules at the 2nd cutting was always higher than that of the 1st cutting. No results were recorded indicating the presence of root nodules in cowpea plants to which bradyrhizobia was not added. Results showed that the fresh weight of cowpea plants under investigation as shown in the 16 treatments was inconsistent and reflects the importance of biofertilizers. Percentages of nitrogen and crude protein among two cutting of cowpea plants cultivated under showed that the 2nd cut was always higher in the percentage of crude protein than the 1st cut. Treatment T16 containing bradrhizobia and actinomycetes as biofertilizers, organic fertilizer, low concentration of nitrogen fertilizer and biochar appeared the highest fresh weight per Feddan compared to all treatments. Results of the yield (Ton/Fed) of dry weight of the cowpea plants has become in the same trend as the results of fresh weight. As a conclusion, treatment coded T16 which containing Bradyrhizobiumsp. (Vigna)and actinomycetes as biofertilizers, organic fertilizer, low concentration of nitrogen fertilizer and biochar appeared the highest levels of no. of nodules, nodules dry weight, fresh and dry weights of cowpea shoots, percentage of crude protein and yield of fresh and dry weight (Ton/Feddan).