Effect of Organic and Bio-Fertilization on Promoting Vegetative Growth of Pear Seedling Cv. (Basateen MKM) Under Intensive Cultivars Conditions .

Mokhtar, O. S.; Abdel-Rahman, Alaa S.; El-Khayat, Ramy M.

doi:10.21608/hrj.2025.440420

Effect of Organic and Bio-Fertilization on Promoting Vegetative Growth of Pear Seedling Cv. (Basateen MKM) Under Intensive Cultivars Conditions .

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Deciduous Fruits Research Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt.

² Agricultural Microbiology Researches Department, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt. * Researcher of Agricultural Microbiology Research Department.

10.21608/hrj.2025.440420

Abstract

The experiment was conducted over two successive seasons (2023/2025) on 72 pear seedlings (Pyrus communis) grafted on Pyrus betulaefolia rootstock its two-year-old at the experimental orchard of the Horticulture Research Institute (ARC), Egypt. The seedlings were planted in clay soil with 1.5 × 2.0 m spacing and subjected to eight fertilization treatments combining compost, mineral fertilizers (NPK), and microbial inoculants including Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus circulans, Trichoderma harzianum, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The study aimed to optimize fertilization strategies by replacing 50% of chemical fertilizers with sustainable biological alternatives under local conditions. Treatments involved combinations of two levels of NPK (50% and 100% of the recommended dose), two levels of compost (also equivalent to 50% and 100% NPK), and three levels of biofertilizers to assess their effects on vegetative growth. The most effective treatment (T8: 50% compost + 50% NPK + 200 ml/tree of microbial mixture + 200 g/tree of AMF) significantly improved seedling height, stem diameter, shoot number, leaf area, and total chlorophyll content. Leaf nutrient levels of N, P, K, and Ca increased accordingly. T8 also enhanced rhizosphere microbial activity, with bacterial counts reaching 95 × 10⁵ cfu/g, actinomycetes 141 × 10³ cfu/g, fungi 97 × 10³ cfu/g, and enzyme activities of 106.55 µg TPF/g/day (dehydrogenase) and 0.57 mg PNP/g/day (phosphatase). Macronutrient concentrations in the soil also rose. In conclusion, integrating organic and biofertilizers with reduced mineral input effectively enhances pear seedling growth and soil health, supporting sustainable orchard management.

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