Enhancing Wheat Productivity by Adding Biochar and Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (Pseudomonas fluresenc) under Sandy Soil Conditions

Abstract

The effects of biochar and plant growth promoting (Pseudomonas fluorescens) as biofertilizer on some sandy soil physical, chemical properties and wheat productivity were studied in two successive winter season (2021-2022 and 2022-2023). A field experiment was carried out at the Ismailia Agric.Res.Station, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt (latitude, 30 o 35' 41.901" N and longitude, 32 o 16' 45.834" E). Two rates of biochar (2.4 and 4.8 Mg ha-1) and two techniques methods of biofertilization (Pseudomonas fluorescens) were applied as coating or soaking. The results showed that biochar rates and biofertilizer (Pseudomonas fluorescens) enhanced soil moisture content, bulk density, and total porosity. During both seasons under study; a significant decrease in (BD) values was observed, while an increase in (TP) and soil moisture content values (FC, WP, and AW) were observed compared to control. Furthermore, the biochar application has a greater impact on soil CEC and organic matter. The significant increase in soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability obtained with increasing rates of applied biochar combined with biofertilizer. Furthermore, the results showed that the application of a high rate of biochar (4.8 ha-1) in conjunction with coating biofertilizer treatment recorded the highest values of macronutrient content and wheat yield components compared to control and other treatments. Also, there is no significant different detected between coating or soaking was observed.