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The utilization of dual-purpose cereals is encouraged in the Mediterranean environments to fill a feed gap during the winter season. Triticale is a promising dual-purpose crop for forage and grain production. Studies on the variations in productivity and quality of dual-purpose triticale under variable fertilization management are scarce. This study was carried out during winter 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, in Northern Egypt, to evaluate the performance of triticale grown in dual-purpose and grain-only production systems under variable mineral N (mN) rates (zero, 25, 50, 75% of the recommended), accompanied with Azotobacter chroococcum (AC) seed inoculation, as well as 100% mN application without AC. The application of 50% mN with AC seed inoculation resulted in an average of 7.23, 7.27 t ha-1, forage and grain yields, respectively. Moreover, forage and grain crude protein reached 125.57, and 200.60 g kg-1, respectively. Forage fiber fractions were non-significantly variable among the fertilizer treatments. Azotobacter chroococcum seed inoculation, thus, allowed for the reduction of the used amount of mN to 50% without sacrificing the forage and grain yields and protein content. In the dual-purpose system, an average of 7.23 t ha-1 forage yield was obtained with little reduction in the grain yield (19% reduction in average). Meanwhile, grain CP content was higher in dual-purpose system (201.38 g kg-1) than in grain-only system (182.98 g kg-1). In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to expand the production of dual-purpose triticale in the winter while reducing mN fertilizer rate to 50% in combination with AC seed inoculation.

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A RBUSCULAR mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of higher plants. AMF can potentially be applied to enhance plant tolerance to stress and thus minimize the deleterious effects of abiotic stress. Deficiencies in phosphorus, an essential macronutrient for plants, can have negative effects. Our target was to determine the mitigation effect of local AMF inoculum on the growth and metabolic activity of Zea mays at different phosphorus levels (from 0 to 120mg P kg −1 soil). Phosphorus deficiency disturbed physiological performance; however, AMF mitigated associated negative effects, enhanced dry weight significantly (P< 0.05), and increased P and alkaline phosphatase levels in calcareous soil compared with non-inoculated controls. The maximum H + -ATPase activity was 28.13µmoL Pi −1 ng P −1 min in the leaves of Z. mays in AMF-inoculated soil treated with 60mg P kg −1 soil. AMF enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase together with their substrates glutathione and ascorbic acid, with concurrent reductions in lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content. The highest mycorrhizal colonization (88%) was recorded in maize grown with 60 mg P kg −1 soil. Established data on morphological characteristics revealed that the local AMF isolates contained four native spores related to the genera Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora, and Entrophospora. Analysis of genetic material confirmed that the spores were related to Glomus mosseae and Acaulospora spinose. These findings demonstrate that root colonization via local AMF inoculum could ameliorate phosphorus deficiency in calcareous soils from the northwestern coast of Egypt.

Mixing grasses with legumes for forage production has been a common cropping system, especially in the Mediterranean countries. However, the nutritive value of the end product is greatly dependent on adopting the suitable cultural practices to achieve maximum benefit from the forage mixture, especially the nitrogen (N) fertilizer level and the mixing rate. Thus, the current study was carried out on the winter season of 2012 and 2013 in the experimental station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt. The main aim was to investigate the variations in 1st cut dry matter (DM) content and nutritive value of Egyptian clover (EC) and annual ryegrass (RG) grown in pure stands and with three mixing rates, under three N fertilization levels (72, 107, and 143 kg N ha-1). Nutritive value was judged upon investigating the crude protein (CP), carbohydrate content, and fiber fractions [neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL)]. Results revealed significant variations among the five forage treatments for all the tested parameters (P < 0.001). In addition, significant variations among the three N-levels (P < 0.05) and significant two-way interaction among forage treatment and N-level (P < 0.01) were declared only in case of 1st cut CP content. In general, pure RG was superior in DM (155.08 g kg-1), carbohydrate (273.00 g kg-1), NDF (505.74 g kg-1), and ADF (279.60 g kg-1) contents. While, pure EC produced the highest-significant CP (155.52 g kg-1) and ADL (23.86 g kg-1) contents. Increasing the applied N-fertilizer level significantly increased the CP content of the sole EC (156.63 g kg-1) and the mixture of 70% EC + 30% RG (132.70 g kg-1). Grass-legume mixtures produced fodder of more balanced nutritive value when compared to the pure stands.

The present study aimed to evaluate the composting (during 25 days) of three garden wastes through the changes in its physical, chemical, microbial and enzymatic parameters by using the bioreactor method. The used wastes were grass clippings and fallen leaves of Jambul trees, Eucalyptus trees and Ficus trees. The obtained results revealed that the physical changes such as temperature reached the maximum value after 10 days and then gradually decreased by the end of composting, while that of ouder and colour showed exhibited clear changes. The values of the chemical parameters including: ash content, total nitrogen (TN), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were increased by the end of composting, while organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC) and carbon: nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) were decreased. The decrease in pH was recorded after 10 days and then gradually increased and reached the maximum value (from 5.63, 5.00 and 5.89 to 6.72, 6.76 and 7.07 for Jambul, Eucalyptus and Ficus, respectively) by the end of composting. Electrical conductivity (EC) increased during the first ten days and then gradually decreased by proceeding the composting. Both mesophilic bacteria and fungi gradually decreased with time, whereas the thermophilic ones gradually increased and reached the maximum after 10 days and then gradually decreased with time and disappeared by the end of composting. The activity of α-amylase increased and reached the maximum value (0.02, 0.02 and 0.03 µmol/ml/min for the three garden wastes, respectively) after 5 days and then decreased gradually by the end of composting, while the activity of Carboxymethyl cellulase (CMC ase) increased and reached the maximum value (0.04 µmol/ml/min) for the three garden wastes from starting composting process after 5 days and then decreased gradually by the end of composting. Finally, the activity of xylanase increased and reached the maximum value (0.23, 0.23 and 0.24 µmol/ml/min) for Jambul, Eucalyptus and Ficus garden wastes, respectively, after 10 days and then decreased gradually by the end of composting.

Organic farming is an agricultural system that is receiving increased attention in forage crop production. The incorporation of composts and manures from different animal and plant sources into forage production systems would positively affect forage yield and quality through enhancing the nutritional status of the plant. Field trials were carried out at SEKEM organic farm, in Egypt, during the winter seasons of 2012 and 2013. Main aim was to study the effect of application of compost and poultry litter on shoot fresh and dry weights (g plant-1), nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) concentration (%) and uptake (g plant-1) of barley and berseem clover, as well as to examine the variation in root mycorrhizal infection under the organic farming system. Results revealed that the tested forage crops responded differently to the applied amendments. When fertilized with compost, barley produced the highest fresh and dry weights, amounting to 99.67 and 17.37 (g plant-1), respectively. Compost application also enhanced P concentration (0.36%) and uptake (6.25 g plant-1) and N uptake (35.61 g plant-1) in barley plants compared to poultry litter and control (no fertilization). On the other hand, berseem clover recorded its highest fresh and dry weights with the application of poultry litter, 2.50 and 0.27 (g plant-1), respectively. In addition, application of poultry litter significantly enhanced P (0.08 g plant-1) and N (0.84 g plant-1) uptake in beseem clover, while P and N concentrations were similar under compost and poultry litter application. Although root mycorrhizal infection was detected in both crops, that were organically fertilized, its percentage didn't vary significantly among the tested organic amendments. The current results suggest that, under the organic farming system, fertilizing barley with compost and berseem clover with poultry litter would improve yield and quality of the end fodder through improving the nutrients' uptake and concentration in the plants.