NITROGEN EFFECIENCY IN BARELY UNDER SALINE-SODICCONDITIONDS AS AFFECTED BY UREA, COMPOST ANDBIOFERTILIZER (Rhizobium radiobacter sp.)

Effects of application of different rates of urea, biofertilizer, (Rhizobium radiobacter sp.) as salt tolerant PGPR strain and compost on barley (Hordeum valgare L. cv. Giza 126) were studied on a saline-sodic sandy loam soil at Gelbana village, Northern Sinai Governorate, Egypt during the two successive winter seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. The studied treatments were No, control (non fertilized), N1, mineral-N (119 kg N ha1), N2, mineral-N (179 kg N ha1), equivalent 0 , 50 and 75% from recommended rate for barley, biofertilizer (Bio), biofertilizer (Bio) + N1, biofertilizer (Bio)+ N2, compost, compost + N1 and compost + N2. The results could be summarized as follow: available N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations were significantly increased due to the above mentioned treatments. On the other hand, the electrical conductivity (EC dSm1) and soil pH values decreased due to these treatments. The applied urea, compost and biofertilizer as well as their combinations significantly, increased straw and grain yields as well as N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn contents in straw and grains, grain weight spike1 and 1000-grain weight in the two growing seasons, except grains spike1 which did not reach the level of significantly in the first season. The highest values of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE) and apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR) were obtained due to the treatment Biofertilizer + N1 (119 kg N ha1). The higher rate of N fertilization i.e., 179 kg N ha1 combined with compost was of superior effect on improving soil chemical properties and increasing barley production, protein content and nutrient uptake as compared to the other treatments. This was found to be true for straw and grains. Thus, it is suggested to use a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers to achieve the highest yield without negative effect on grain quality.