Abstract:
To study the effect of different fertilizing system
s on macro and micro nutrients uptake
by annual medic (
Medicago scutellata
cv. Robinson) an experiment was conducted under
dry farming and irrigated conditions at two researc
h stations (Sararood Dryland
Agricultural Research Institute and Soil Fertility
Research Station in Mahidasht) during
2009 growing season. The experimental treatments co
nsisted of the two experimental sites
with different climatic conditions and cultural sys
tems (dry farming and irrigated
systems), while the fertilizer treatments consisted
of the control (no fertilizer), chemical
fertilizer, biological fertilizer, and different co
mbinations of chemical and biological
fertilizing systems. The results showed that, in bo
th irrigated and dry farming conditions,
all fertilizing treatments increased macro- and mic
ro-nutrients uptake over the control.
The highest concentration of nutrient elements such
as Nitrogen (3.82%), Potassium, (4.16
mg kg
-1
), Iron (495 mg kg
-1
) and Cu (60.8 mg kg
-1
) were observed in integrated fertilizing
treatments i.e. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria+Triple sup
erphosphate. Application of integrated
fertilizing treatments not only decreased the chemi
cal fertilizer application (consequently,
reducing the environmental pollutions), but it also
enhanced forage quality in terms of
higher macro- and micro-nutrients concentrations.
According to the results of this study,
it could be concluded that integrated fertilizing s
ystems may be more efficient in dry
farming agro-ecosystems than in irrigated systems.
Keywords:
Annual Medic, Biological Fertilizer, Cultivation Sy
stems, Fertilizing systems,
Macro and Micro Nutrients.
