title: Bio-preparates support the productivity of potato plants grown under desert farming conditions of north Sinai: Five years of field trials.
abstract: Organic agriculture as well as good agricultural practices (GAPs) intrigues the concern of both consumers and producers of agricultural commodities. Bio-preparates of various rhizospheric microorganisms (RMOs) are potential sources of biological inputs supporting plant nutrition and health. The response of open-field potatoes to the application of RMO bio-preparates, the biofertilizer "Biofertile" and the bioagent "Biocontrol", were experimented over 5 successive years under N-hunger of north Sinai desert soils. Both vegetative and tuber yields of a number of tested cultivars were significantly improved due to rhizobacterial treatments. In the majority of cases, the biofertilizer "Biofertile" did successfully supply ca. 50% of plant N requirements, as the yield of full N-fertilized plants was comparable to those received 50% N simultaneously with bio-preparates treatment. The magnitude of inoculation was cultivar-dependent; cvs. Valor and Oceania were among the most responsive ones. Bio-preparate introduction to the plant-soil system was successful via soaking of tubers and/or spraying the plant canopy. The "Biocontrol" formulation was supportive in controlling plant pathogens and significantly increased the fruit yields. The cumulative effect of both bio-preparates resulted in tuber yield increases of ca. 25% over control.
authors: Environmental Studies and Research Unit (ESRU), Microbiology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt.
authors: Mohammed T
authors: MT
authors: Abbas
authors: Environmental Studies and Research Unit (ESRU), Microbiology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt.
authors: Mervat A
authors: MA
authors: Hamza
authors: Environmental Studies and Research Unit (ESRU), Microbiology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt.
authors: Hanan H
authors: HH
authors: Youssef
authors: Soil and Water Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
authors: Gehan H
authors: GH
authors: Youssef
authors: Environmental Studies and Research Unit (ESRU), Microbiology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Fayez
authors: Environmental Studies and Research Unit (ESRU), Microbiology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Monib
authors: Environmental Studies and Research Unit (ESRU), Microbiology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt.
authors: Nabil A
authors: NA
authors: Hegazi
keywords: Biocontrol; Biofertilizers; North Sinai; Organic farming; Potatoes; Rhizospheric microorganisms