EFFECT OF PHOSPHATE ROCK AND TRIPLESUPERPHOS-PHATE ON GROWTH AND LEAF N, P AND K CONTENTS OF GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.) GROWN ON A CLAY SOIL

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the agricultural value of a local phosphate rock (PR) as a source of plant phosphorus compared with that of the cur-rently imported triplesuperphosphate (TSP) .The PR was applied at the rate of 0, 55, and 110 kg P2O5 /ha and the TSP was at the rate of 0 , 45 and 90 kg P2O5 /ha. The growth and leaf contents of N, P and K of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown on a clay soil were measured. The experiment continued for two seasons. Phosphatic fertilizers are of low recovery; therefore, they can remain for the next crop. Thus, the pots of the first season were set to study the residual effect of phosphorus in the second season. The results indicated that PR and TSP significantly (P>0.05) in-creased dry weights of shoot and root, leaf contents of N , P and available soil phos-phorus. However, plant height was significantly increased by TSP only. The leaf content of K was neither affected by PR nor TSP application. The results showed a positive effect of the residual PR and TSP on the measured parameters. Moreover, the results revealed that the plant measurements obtained from PR treatments were comparable to those obtained from TSP treatments which indicate that PR can be used as a potential source of phosphorus fertilizer

A Note on the Effect of Fertilization on the Seed Quality of Faba Bean

Page(s): 6 (1), 167-171, 5 Ref.A filed experiment was conducted to study the response of four faba bean (Vicia faba L.) genotypes to Rhizobium inoculation and nitrogen and chicken manure fertilization. The Rhizobium inoculation and chicken manure fertilization significantly increased the crude fibre, and significantly decreased the carbohydrate content, of the four genotypes. The protein content varied from 28.4% to 31.2%, and all treatments significantly increased the protein content in three out of the four genotypes. With the exception of one genotype, all treatments significantly increased the in vitro protein digestibility. The ash and moisture contents of the seeds were not affected by the fertilization treatments, and the tannin content varied inconsistently in the different genotypes and different fertilization treatments.Khartoum University Pres

Effects of Biological and Chemical Fertilizers on Growth and Symbiotic Properties of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Under Salt Stress

Page(s): 6 (1), 150-166, 13 Ref.The effects of chemical (nitrogen and phosphorus) and biological fertilizers (Rhizobium and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae [VAM] (Glomus sp.) on growth and symbiotic properties of faba bean under saline conditions were investigated in two pot experiments. Salinity significantly reduced the shoot fresh and dry weight, number of nodules, dry weight of nodules and percentage of mycorrhizal infection. Both VAM inoculation and phosphorus fertilization significantly increased the shoot and root fresh and dry weights, number of nodules and dry weight of nodules under normal and saline conditions. High levels of superphosphate (150 kg/ha) completely suppressed the enhancing effect of the VAM under normal conditions, and the effect was strong at 115 kg/ha under saline conditions. Inoculation of faba bean by Rhizobium significantly increased shoot and root fresh and dry weights, number and dry weight of nodules and pods fresh and dry weights, under saline and non-saline conditions. The dual inoculation increased the nodulation and dry matter under salt stressKhartoum University Pres

A Note on the Response of Three Onion (Allium cepa L.) Cultivars to Infection with VAM-fungi and Onion Yellow Dwarf Virus (OYDV)

Page(s): 5 (2), 158- 163, 3 Ref.Onion seedlings of three cultivars; namely, "Saggai", "Dongola" and "Texas Early Grano 502", were inoculated with VAM, OYDV and both VAM and OYDV. The results indicated that "Texas Early Grano 502" was resistant to the virus, while "Saggai" and "Dongola" were susceptible. The VAM inoculation significantly improved some of the growth, yield and quality of "Dongola". In mixed infection with OYDV, VAM caused pronounced enhancement in these components over the virus-infected onion plants. Similarly, "Saggai" infected with OYDV responded significantly to VAM inoculation, whereas "Texas Early Grano 502" did not benefit from this interaction, in the presence or absence of OYDV infection.Khartoum University Pres

World’s soils are under threat

The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils has completed the first State of the World’s Soil Resources report. Globally soil erosion was identified as the gravest threat, leading to deteriorating water quality in developed regions and to lowering of crop yields in many developing regions. We need to increase nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use in infertile tropical and semi-tropical soils – the regions where the most food insecure among us are found – while reducing global use of these products overall. Stores of soil organic carbon are critical in the global carbon balance, and national governments must set specific targets to stabilize or ideally increase soil organic carbon stores. Finally the quality of soil information available for policy formulation must be improved – the regional assessments in the SWSR report frequently base their evaluations on studies from the 1990s based on observations made in the 1980s or earlier.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen