Response of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) to chemical, biological and integrated use of fertilizers

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of different fertilizer types on the vegetative growth characteristics, yield and forage quality of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), the present experiment was conducted in Mahidasht Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Station (Kermanshah, Iran), during 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. The experimental treatments consisted of control (no fertilizer), chemical fertilizer, biological fertilizer and different combinations of chemical and biological fertilizing systems. A complete randomized block design with three replicates was employed for analysis of the data for each year. A combined analysis of variance was conducted to compare the data from the two years of the experiment. The results showed that the highest forage yield (172.1 g/m2) was produced in integrated fertilizer application (urea chemical fertilizer + mycorrhiza treatment). The highest crude protein content of 25% was obtained from integrated biological fertilizer treatment (nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorussolubilizing bacteria treatment). The superiority of integrated fertilizer application for higher forage production and biological fertilizer application for higher forage quality in berseem clover could be recommended by the results of this experiment. Application of integrated fertilizing treatments not only optimized the chemical fertilizer application (consequently reducing the environmental pollutions), but it also enhanced forage quality in terms of higher macro a micronutrients concentrations. According to the results of this study it could be concluded that integrated fertilizing treatments may be accounted more efficient in dry farming than in irrigated agroecosystems.