The Impact of Potassium Sources and Bio Fertilizer on Corn Plant and Potassium Availability in Calcareous Soil
Basma R. A. Rashwan
Soils, Water and Environ. Res. Ins., Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.
Alaa Eldeen A. Shaheen *
Soils, Water and Environ. Res. Ins., Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Two field experiments were conducted in a calcareous soil during summer seasons of 2019 and 2020 at the experimental in a private farm Mallawi, El- Minia Governorate, Egypt to evaluate application of K fertilization at different rates of K2SO4 and non-classic products, i.e. K feldspar, mixture with or without inoculation with the K dissolving bacteria (Bacillus circulans.) soil chemical properties, plant growth, yield and nutritional value of corn (Zea-maize hybrid third 310). Our results proved that inoculation of maize seeds with Bacillus circulans at rate of 36% K2O improved soil pH, EC, soil organic matter content and enhanced the soil available N, P and K concentrations. Also, the growth parameters, yield and nutritional status of the plants were significantly increased by using non-traditional potassium fertilizers particularly in the case of seed inoculated with potassium dissolving bacteria (Bacillus circulans).
Keywords: Soil, k-sources, bacillus circulans and corn