RESPONSE OF WHEAT PLANTS TO NITROGEN AND BIOLOGICAL FERTILIZATION UNDER CONDITIONS OF NORTH WEST COAST OF EGYPT

Abstract

Three field experiments were carried out during

1990/91, 91/92 and 92/93 seasons at Mariout region to investigate the response of growth, yield, yield

. components and chemical contents of wheat plants to the effect of nitrogen fertilization rates and inoculation with Azotobacter, Azospirillum and their mixture. The results are summarized as follows:

1- Increasing nitrogen fertilization rates increased plant height, plant fresh and dry weight, total number of tillers; fertile ones, number of spikelets/spike; number of grains/spike; spikes weight, weight of 1000 grain, biological, "grain and straw" yield, crop and harvest index, total chlorophyll • content, percentage and amounts of crude protein, total carbohydrate, phosphorus and potassium in "grains and straw", while decreased specific leaf weight.

2. Azotobacters enhanced plant height, "fresh and dry" weight, ,•flag leaf area, tillering, specific leaf weight, yield components, biological, "grain and straw" yield, percentage and amounts of crude protein, total carbohydrate, phosphorus and potassium in plants;• while Azospirilla encouraged number of unfertile tillers, number of spikelets/spike, percentage of potassium in straw, the amounts of potassium in straw; . •••---•--•••• --•---••-• •-• •••-••• .. and their mixture was increasable plant height,

specific leaf weight, chlorophyll (a+b) content,