The Efficiency of Some Soil Amendment and Growth Stimulators On Soil Salinity and Its Impact on the Yield, Quality and Nutritional Value of Egyptian Clover Varieties

Abstract

nutrition. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of some soil amendments and plant growth simulators on saline soil properties. Three multi-cut Egyptian clover varieties, Sakha-4, Gemmiza and Giza-6 were tested for adaptability, productivity and nutritive values for two winter seasons by management soil salinity in semi-arid region, of the North Sinai Governorate, Egypt. The 
soil amendments included sulphur (2.5 t ha−1), gypsum (5 t ha−1), compost (12 t ha−1) and a composite of compost, gypsum and sulphur (6 t ha−1compost + 2.5 t ha−1gypsum + 1.2 t ha−1sulphur); and the plant growth stimulators are potassium silicate (2 mm L−1) and nanoparticles of CaCO3 (5 g L−1).The pH, k and Cu values demonstrated an insignificantly (p<0.0.5) across all soil amendment and growth stimulators, however the EC dSm− 1, OM% and (N, P, Zn, Mn, and Fe) mg kg−1 hada positive significantly (p<0.05) in soil with using soil and plant applications after plant cutting. Linear regression has a descending relationship significant (P<0.0.5) between ECE mol.kg and ESP % (R2 = 33.5*) in the first growing season with high significant ascending relation between Ec (dSm− 1) and OM% (R2 =
0.818**) in the second growing season. Giza-6 followed by Gemmiza-1 were better performances with higher forage dry yield compared with those of Sakha-4, which could be attributed to differences in saltstress tolerance. The digestibility coefficients of CPY, DCP, fiber fractionation values, total digestive nutrients (TDN %) and relative feeding value (RFV %) over varieties increased significantly (P<0.05) with using soil amendments and growth regulator in salt affected soils.