Three phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) were isolated from contaminated soil and putatively identified as Bacillus sp., Azotobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The maximum amount of P solubilized (3.11 mg/ml) was recorded for Bacillus sp. which also recorded the highest phosphate solubilization index (2.72). Bacterial isolates produced a substantial amount of IAA both in the absence and presence of heavy metals concentrations. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of isolated (PSB) on the uptake of heavy metals by corn grown on a contaminated soil. The results showed that inoculation of corn plants with PSB isolates caused significantly (p= 0.05) decreases in the uptake of heavy metals by corn plants. The percent decreases in heavy metals uptake induced by Bacillus sp. were 69 %, 70.5 %, 80.7 % and 62.9 % for Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd respectively, compared with control. These results suggested that the PSB inoculant due to its intrinsic abilities of growth promotion and increase the solubility of P in soil could be exploited for phytostabilization of heavy metals contaminated site.

Five cellulose-decomposing Bacillus strains were isolated and the highly efficient two strains that were putatively identified as Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus brevis were used in the composting process. Plant residues were collected from the mown grass of King Abdulaziz University and composted for 60 days under aerobic conditions. Samples from the composting material were taken at 0, 12, 14, 33, 50 and 60 days and monitored for physical, chemical and microbiological analysis. The temperature of the compost pile rose to 44.0 ºC after one day of composting and reached its peak of 55.0 ºC after four days and lasted above 45.0 ºC until 30 days. The pH value of the residues decreased during the first 14 days of the composting process to reach 5.0 and thereafter it increased to reach 8.6 at the end of this process. The organic matter and carbon content of plant residues gradually decreased during the composting process and the biodegradability coefficient of the composting process was 0.5. The C:N ratio was narrowed rapidly to reach 14.0 in the produced compost. The N, P and K contents of the residues increased with increasing the composting period to reach 3.0, 0.73 and 2.4%, respectively, in the resultant compost. Moreover, the number of total microbe count, cellulose-decomposing microorganisms, fungi and actinomycetes gradually decreased within the first 14 days of the composting process and then, they increased after 33 days except the actinomycetes, that continued to decrease up to 50 days of composting.

Background: mixed inoculants are used for many crops grown under field condition, and many studies have shown that mixed inoculants containing mixture of bacterial species promote greater beneficial effects than single strain inocula. Materials and Methods: A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of inoculation with A. chroococcum or plus yeast strains (Saccharomyces cervisiae, Candida sake, Saccharomyces exiguous, Pichia membranifaciens and Cryptococcus laurentii) on grain germination, growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv., Giza-164, and to choose the best yeast strain for inoculation under field condition. Results: The results showed that the mixed inoculation of any of the yeast strains with A. chroococcum except yeast strain Cryptococcus laurentii resulted in significant (P≤ 0.05) increases in shoot fresh and dry weights, root fresh and dry weights. The most stimulative treatment on all plant growth parameters was that inoculated with A. chroococcum + Candida sake, scoring the following increases in ; germination, shoot fresh and dry weight and root fresh and dry weights making 134.09 %, 210.9% , 30.23 % , 20.71 % and 71.60 % , respectively, compared with the single inoculation treatment with A. chroococcum alone. The response of wheat to co-inoculation with A. chroococcum and the selected yeast strain (Candida sake) was tested in season 2015/2016 under field condition in presence of different N levels (40, 60 and 80 kg N/feddan). The dual inoculation treatments of A. chroococcum + yeast strain C. sake under any of the N levels produced significant (P≤0.05) increases in fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, N-uptake and grain yield of wheat compared to the single inoculation treatment with A. chroococcum alone. Conclusions: Dual inoculation with A. chroococcum + yeast strain C. sake along with 60 kg/fed. is recommended for wheat fertilization in Egypt since it gave highest grain yield and was equal to that obtained with dual inoculation+80 kg/feddan, thus saving 20 kg N-fertilizer/feddan. Main conclusions : the magnified promotion induced by the mixture of the yeast strain C. sake and A. chroococcum may indicate a synergetic interaction between them.

NULL Field experiment was conducted for two successive summer seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 at the Experimental Research Station of the Desert Research Center at El-Kharga Oasis, the New Valley governorate. The objective of this work was to study the effect of bio, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the growth, yield and yield components of sunflower crop. Results indicated that application of biofertilizer had significant effect on plant height, head diameter, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and oil% in seeds and oil yield respectively in the second growing season. Biofertilizer increased seed yield (kg/fed) and oil yield (kg/fed) by 11.0%, 12.0% and 16.6%, 14.0% over the control in the first and second growth seasons respectively. Nitrogen fertilization at rates of 30, 60 and 90 kg/fed, significantly resulted in increases in all studied parameters. Addition of nitrogen fertilizer at 90 kg N/fed gave the highest seed and oil yields in the two season when compared with 30 and 60 kg/fed. Results also showed that application of phosphorus at rates of 0, 15 and 45 P2O5 kg/fed were of highly significant influence on all studied traits.

NULL Field experiment was conducted for two successive summer seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 at the Experimental Research Station of the Desert Research Center at El-Kharga Oasis, the New Valley governorate. The objective of this work was to study the effect of bio, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the growth, yield and yield components of sunflower crop. Results indicated that application of biofertilizer had significant effect on plant height, head diameter, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and oil% in seeds and oil yield respectively in the second growing season. Biofertilizer increased seed yield (kg/fed) and oil yield (kg/fed) by 11.0%, 12.0% and 16.6%, 14.0% over the control in the first and second growth seasons respectively. Nitrogen fertilization at rates of 30, 60 and 90 kg/fed, significantly resulted in increases in all studied parameters. Addition of nitrogen fertilizer at 90 kg N/fed gave the highest seed and oil yields in the two season when compared with 30 and 60 kg/fed. Results also showed that application of phosphorus at rates of 0, 15 and 45 P2O5 kg/fed were of highly significant influence on all studied traits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if short-term high-energy diet treatments have any overstimulatory effects on ovarian function and metabolic status in Ossimi ewes synchronized with progesterone sponge. Thirteen ewes were divided into high-energy (HEG; n = 7) and normal-energy or control (NEG; n = 6) groups. Progesterone sponges were placed intravaginally for 14 days during the winter breeding season (December–February). Four days before the removal of the sponges, a high-energy diet (130% of maintenance) was fed to HEG, whereas NEG was offered maintenance diet throughout the experiment. Ovarian performance and progesterone, estradiol, and blood metabolites were assessed daily starting from the day of removal of the sponges. Estrus period was longer in HEG (P 0.05) when compared with NEG. Ovulation took place considerably longer with larger ovulatory follicles in HEG (P 0.05). A marked increase in the level of total protein, albumin, glucose, and blood urea during the first 2 days following the removal of progesterone sponge was noticed in HEG when compared with NEG ewes. Eighty-five percentage (85.7%; 6/7) and 66.6% (4/6) had ovulation for the HEG and NEG, respectively. Dietary energy had a nonsignificant effect on the number of the recruited follicles, whereas a significant effect was observed for the diameter of the ovulatory follicle and ovulation rate (HEG, 2.3 ± 0.1 vs. NEG, 1.2 ± 0.3). It is concluded that short-term energy supplementation improves estrus expression and ovarian activity in fluorgestone acetate (FGA)–synchronized Ossimi ewes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if short-term high-energy diet treatments have any overstimulatory effects on ovarian function and metabolic status in Ossimi ewes synchronized with progesterone sponge. Thirteen ewes were divided into high-energy (HEG; n = 7) and normal-energy or control (NEG; n = 6) groups. Progesterone sponges were placed intravaginally for 14 days during the winter breeding season (December–February). Four days before the removal of the sponges, a high-energy diet (130% of maintenance) was fed to HEG, whereas NEG was offered maintenance diet throughout the experiment. Ovarian performance and progesterone, estradiol, and blood metabolites were assessed daily starting from the day of removal of the sponges. Estrus period was longer in HEG (P 0.05) when compared with NEG. Ovulation took place considerably longer with larger ovulatory follicles in HEG (P 0.05). A marked increase in the level of total protein, albumin, glucose, and blood urea during the first 2 days following the removal of progesterone sponge was noticed in HEG when compared with NEG ewes. Eighty-five percentage (85.7%; 6/7) and 66.6% (4/6) had ovulation for the HEG and NEG, respectively. Dietary energy had a nonsignificant effect on the number of the recruited follicles, whereas a significant effect was observed for the diameter of the ovulatory follicle and ovulation rate (HEG, 2.3 ± 0.1 vs. NEG, 1.2 ± 0.3). It is concluded that short-term energy supplementation improves estrus expression and ovarian activity in fluorgestone acetate (FGA)–synchronized Ossimi ewes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if short-term high-energy diet treatments have any overstimulatory effects on ovarian function and metabolic status in Ossimi ewes synchronized with progesterone sponge. Thirteen ewes were divided into high-energy (HEG; n = 7) and normal-energy or control (NEG; n = 6) groups. Progesterone sponges were placed intravaginally for 14 days during the winter breeding season (December–February). Four days before the removal of the sponges, a high-energy diet (130% of maintenance) was fed to HEG, whereas NEG was offered maintenance diet throughout the experiment. Ovarian performance and progesterone, estradiol, and blood metabolites were assessed daily starting from the day of removal of the sponges. Estrus period was longer in HEG (P 0.05) when compared with NEG. Ovulation took place considerably longer with larger ovulatory follicles in HEG (P 0.05). A marked increase in the level of total protein, albumin, glucose, and blood urea during the first 2 days following the removal of progesterone sponge was noticed in HEG when compared with NEG ewes. Eighty-five percentage (85.7%; 6/7) and 66.6% (4/6) had ovulation for the HEG and NEG, respectively. Dietary energy had a nonsignificant effect on the number of the recruited follicles, whereas a significant effect was observed for the diameter of the ovulatory follicle and ovulation rate (HEG, 2.3 ± 0.1 vs. NEG, 1.2 ± 0.3). It is concluded that short-term energy supplementation improves estrus expression and ovarian activity in fluorgestone acetate (FGA)–synchronized Ossimi ewes.

NULL

NULL