Impact of Combining Mineral and Biofertilizers on Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum vulgare L.) Yield and its Economic Viability

Abstract

A fundamental strategy for raising crop yields is to keep soil fertility and nutrient capacity within balanced ranges. During the winter seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22, two field experiments were performed at the experimental farm of Tag El-Ezz station, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, aiming to estimating the impacts of four combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus mineralfertilizers , and four bio nitrogen and phosphorus treatments in addition their interactions on wheat productivity and its grain quality, Additionally, , N and P uptake were assessed and a cost-benefit analysis was also conducted. Split plot design with three replicates was used. Results confirmed significant effects of mineral and bio fertilization treatments on all studied traits. 31 kg P2O5 plus 120 kg N/ fad (F3) showed superiority in most of the studied traits resulting in higher grain yield compared to other treatments. F3 recorded the highest grain yield and harvest index in both seasons, and the highest harvest index in the 1st season. Dual application of bio N and P (B3) led to the highest yield components, hence, higher grain and straw yields in both seasons. Protein content, N and P uptake, were higher due to with F3 treatment, followed by F2 treatment. The interaction between mineral and bio-fertilization treatments was significant in favor of the combination (F3 plus B3). Economically, the higher levels of combined mineral and bio-fertilizers resulted in increasing grain and straw yields without significant increase in net revenue. Based on the yield-dose response curves predicted, maximum grain yield was obtained from 110.35 kg N/ fad and 28.82 kg P2O5/ fad.