Impact of different rates and dates of phosphorus applications on growth parameters, yield and quality in Egyptian clover

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) rates and its date of application is considered some of the most important factor affecting crop growth, yield and nutritive value in Egyptian clover. Two field experiments were conducted at Sids Agriculture Research Station, Bani Sweif Governorate. ARC, Egypt, during the winter growing seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 to study the impact of use different rates and date of phosphorus applications on growth parameters, forage yield and quality in Egyptian clover (var. Giza 6). The experimental treatments were arranged in a split plot design with three replicates. The main plots represented three different rates of phosphorus (A1=100, A2=150 and A3=200 kg fed-1 superphosphate), whereas the sub-plots included the three dates of phosphorus applications (B1= one dose before planting, B2= two equal doses before planting and the second before first irrigation and B3= two equal doses one before first irrigation and the second before second irrigation). The main obvious results of this study could be summarized as follows; the rates of phosphorus applications had a significant effect on all traits under study of clover crop and maximum values were obtained with A3 treatment but it was on a par with A2 treatment. On the contrary, minimum values for the corresponding respective characters were recorded with A1 treatment. It could be stated that all traits were gradually increased due to applying the assessed rates of phosphorus. Whilst, in case of the dates of phosphorus application, data indicated that B2 treatment were superior compared with the other treatments for all traits. The highest values of interaction were obtained with A3 treatment and B2 treatment for growth parameters, yield and quality. Besides that, a feasibility study proved that Egyptian clover is economically advisable under treatment
(200 kg fed-1) superphosphate added at two equal doses the first before planting and the second before first irrigation, where the maximum total revenue, net return and net return per one invested recorded (37705.5, 26185.5, 2.27 L.E.), respectively. In nutshell, optimization of P fertilization and attention to the time of addition improves the productivity and quality of the forage in Egyptian clover.