Effect of Fertilizing with Sludge and Two Strains of PGPB Bacteria on Improving Growth and Yield of Broccoli

Abstract

Abstract A field experiment was conducted during the autumn season 2021-2022 in the Al-Azzawiya area of Al-Mahaweel District, which is located 30 km north of the center of Babylon provainc, to study the effect of sludge, and it was used with four concentrations (0,10,20,30) tons. ha-1 and two types of microorganisms are (Enterobacter aerogenes and Serratia marcescens) isolated from soil in growth and yield of broccoli. As sludge was added to the main plot before planting, and then microorganisms were added when planting seedlings. The results showed that the addition of sludge caused a significant effect and gave the highest significant increase in leaf area 14422.93 cm 2, chlorophyll concentration 76.88 spad, the total yield of the plant 66.9 tons. ha-1, the percentage of nitrogen in the leaves is 2.30%. The percentage of phosphorous in the leaves is 0.45%, the percentage of potassium in the leaves is 2.91%, and ascorbic is 133.06 mg per 100 g in curd. Also, the microorganisms gave a significant response in all traits of vegetative growth, yield and qualitative indicators. The bacterial isolate of S. marcescens achieved a significant response and gave the best percentage in leaf area, total yield of the plant, percentage of phosphorous in leaves, percentage of potassium in leaves, percentage of nitrogen in leaves, ascorbic in curd except for chlorophyll, which affected E. aerogenes bacteria signifacnt in this respect. As the treatment 20 tons. ha-1 excelled and gave the highest total yield of 66.9 tons. ha-1. As for the interaction between sludge and microorganisms, it had a significant and positive effect on all the studied growth traits. As the treatment 20 tons. ha-1 x S. marcescens excelled and gave the best values for all studied indicators except for leaf area and chlorophyll concentration, where the treatment 20 tons. ha-1 x E. aerogenes increase excelled in this trait.