title: Enhancement of growth and nutrient uptake of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) by applying mineral nutrients and biofertilizers.
abstract: For investigating the effect of chemical fertilizer as well as biofertilizers on seed yield and quality i.e. oil, protein and nutrients concentration of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), a split-plot fertilizers application experimental design in 4 replications was carried out during the 2005-2006 growing season, at the Gharakheil Agricultural Research Station in the Mazandaran province of Iran. Rapeseed was grown as a second crop in rotation after rice. Biofertilizers treatments were two different levels: control (no seed inoculation) and seeds inoculation with a combination of Azotobacter chroococcum and Azosprillum brasilense and Azosprillum lipoferum, as main plot and chemical fertilizers comprised N, P, K and their combinations, NPKS and NPK Zn as sub plots. The maximum value of seed yield obtained at (BF+NPK Zn) 3421.2 kg h(-1) corresponding to 244.5 pods per plant and maximum concentration of Zn in leaves as well as seeds. The highest weight of 1000 seeds (4.45 g) happened to obtain at (BF+NPK S) which coinciding with the maximum K levels in leaves. The highest number of branches was obtained at (BF+NPK Zn) with 4.43 branches per plant i.e., 46.2% increase over the control. The maximum value of rapeseed oil content 47.73% obtained at T16 (BF+NK) but maximum protein concentration of seed obtained at T12 (BF+N). Overall the results indicated that inoculation resulted in increase in seeds yield (21.17%), number of pods per plant (16.05%), number of branches (11.78%), weight of 1000 grain (2.92%), oil content of seeds (1.73%) and protein (3.91%) but decrease (-0.24%) in number of seeds per pods comparing to non-Biofertilizers treatments. Irrespective to the treatments, results showed that application of Biofertilizers coincided with 3.86, 0.82, 2.25, 0.75 and 0.91% increase in concentrations of N, P, K, S and Zn in the seeds over the non-Biofertilizers treatments.
authors: University of Payam Nour, Iran.
authors: Esmaeil
authors: E
authors: Yasari
authors: M A Esmaeili
authors: MA
authors: Azadgoleh
authors: Saedeh
authors: S
authors: Mozafari
authors: Mahsa Rafati
authors: MR
authors: Alashti
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D016949:Azospirillum; D029688:Brassica napus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005308:Fertilizers; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D008903:Minerals