الفهرس 
Material and methodsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Research experiment was carried out at Ras Sudr Research Station, Desert Research Center, South Sinai Governorate in spring and autumn seasons during 2005 and 2006 years.
Experiment was designed and implemented to evaluate vegetative growth behaviour, yield and chemical composition of two Prosopis species (Prosopis chilensis and Prosopis juliflora) as affected by three distances between plants 2, 3 and 4 meter as (1050, 700 and 525 plant/fed) and four biofertilizer treatments (control, Rhizobium, Rhizobium + Azospirillum and Rhizobium
+ Azotobacter).
Experiment was layed out and statistically analyzed in split split plot design where Prosopis species were randomly distributed in the main plots, while the sub-plots were assigned for the plant spacing and the sub-sub plots were devoted to the biofertilizer treatments. Two individual cuts (simulation of browsing cuts) were obtained during spring and autumn seasons in each of the two growing years. Results could be summarized
as follows:
A- Vegetative growth characteristics:
- Height of plant:
-Prosopis chilensis (spl) plants were taller than Prosopis juliflora (sp2) with significant differences in the two seasons of the two years with various magnitudes.
-The medium distance between plants 3 meter (700 plant / fed) produced tallest Prosopis plants as compared with 2 meter(1050 plant/fed) and/or 4 meter (525 plant/fed) between plants during all seasons except during spring of the established year.
-Prosopis plants fertilized with the biofertilizer treatment Rhizobium + Azotobacter produced the tallest plants, followed by Rhizobium + Azospirillum, then Rhizobium alone, followed by the control with significant differences in between. This trend was noticed during all seasons under study.
-The significant interaction effect of the applied three factors on the heights of plants generally indicated that Prosopis chilensis was of the tallest plants, when planted at 3 meter apart (700 plant/fed) and inoculated with Rhizobium + Azotobacter. Whereas, Prosopis jidif/ora was of the shortest plants when planted at 3 meter during spring of the established year and 2 meter during spring and autumn seasons of the second year without fertilization (control) with significant differences.
- Stem diameter:
-Prosopis chilensis plants were of the thickest branches compared with Prosopis juliflora which were of the thinest branches with significant differences.
-Distance of 3 meter apart between plants produced the thickest stein diameters of plants than 2 and 4 meter during spring-2005 and autumn-2006. Whereas, the wider distance between plants of 4 meter exerted significantly thicker stem diameters of plants during autumn-2005 and spring-2006 seasons.-Prosopis plants fertilized with the biofertilizer Rhizobium + Azotobacter produced the thichest branches, followed by Rhizobium + Azospirillum, then Rhizobium followed by the control which produced shortest plant with significant differences in between. Similar trend was noticed during all seasons under study. Meanwhile, Prosopis plants without fertilization (control) produced the thinest branches of plant with significant differences during all seasons.
-The highest values of stem diameter was obtained for Prosopis chilensis inoculated by Rhizobium + Azotobacter and planted at 3 or 4 meter distance between plants. Whereas, the lowest values were recorded for Prosopis juliflora which were obtained without fertilization (control) and planted at 2 meter distance between plants during all seasons except during spring of the established year with significant differences during spring-2005 and autumn-2006 seasons.
-Height of the initiative branching point:
-Prosopis chilensis plants were of significant taller branching point as compared with Prosopis juliflora with various magnitudes within the different seasons.
-Highest branching point was obtained for the narrowest planting distance (2m) and substantially decreased with slight significant differences as the distance between plants increased from 2 meter (1050 plant/fed) to 3 meter (700 plant/fed) and up to 4 meter (525 plant/fed) during all of the studied seasons of the two years except during spring of the establishment
year.-The mixed biofertilizer treatment Rhizobium + Azotobacter was of higher impact in producing the highest branching point of plants as compared with the other mixed Rhizobium + Azospirillum or single Rhizobium biofertilizer treatments and the control with significant differences during all seasons in a descending order.
-Prosopis chilensis was of the significant highest branching point when planted at 2 meters apart (1050 plant/fed) and fertilized with Rhizobium + Azotobacter. Whereas, the shortes branching point was noticed for Prosopis juliflora when planted at 4 meters apart (525 plant/fed) without fertilization. This result was true in all seasons except for spring season of the the first established year.
-Number of branches per plant:
-The Prosopis chilensis plants were of significant more branching behaviour than Prosopis juliflora with slight differences of various magnitudes during all seasons under study.
-The medium distance of 3 meter between plants (700 plant/fed) produced the highest number of branches / plant as compared with 2 meter (1050 plant/fed) or 4 meter (525 plant/fed) in all seasons with significant differences except spring of the established year where 4 meter produced more number of branches / plant than 3 meter with insignificant differences.
-Highest response of the applied biofertilizer treatments on enhancing branching behaviour of plants was for Rhizobium + Azotobacter, Rhizobium + Azospirillum followed by Rhizobium then the control in a significant descending order.-The interaction of the applied 3 factors on the number of branches / plant did not exert any significant differences during all seasons under study.
-Weight / plant on fresh and dry matter basis:
-Prosopis chilensis plants were of the heaviest forage production on fresh and dry matter basis than Prosopis juliflora during all seasons except for dry weight of second spring where the difference did not reach the level of significant.
-Fresh and dry forage weights / plant were significantly increased as the distance between plants increased for all distances 2 meter (1050 plant/fed), 3 meter (700 plant/fed) and 4 meter (525 plant/fed), they followed order 3m > 4m >2m . Such obtained results were noticed in all seasons except during spring of the second year of dry forage weight / plant.
-Inoculations of Prosopis species with Rhizobium + Azotobacter biofertilizer produced the highest fresh and dry forage production/ plant as compared with Rhizobium + Azospirillum treatment, Rhizobium alone and the control as well in a descending order with slight significant differences in a variable magnitudes.
-The interaction effect of the applied 3 factors did not show significant response on fresh or dry weight / plant during all seasons under study. However, it is generally noticed that Prosopis chilensis was somewhat higher in fresh and dry weight / plant than Prosopis juliflora especialy when planted at 3 meter distance apart (700 plant/fed) using Rhizobium + Azotobacter biofertilizer treatment in all seasons except during spring of the established year.B - Fresh and dry forage yield:
-Fresh and dry forage yield of Prosopis chilensis was significantly higher in fresh and dry yield production of as compared with Prosopis juliflora during spring and autumn seasons of the two growing years.
-As the distance between plants increased from 2 to 3 and up to 4 meter apart, fresh arid dry forage productivity /feddan were substantially and significantly decreased during - all of the studied seasons of the two growing years.
-Each of the two mixed biofertilizer treatments Rhizobium + Azotobacter or Rh izobium + Azospirillum produced significantly higher fresh and dry forage yield than the single biofertilizer treatment of Rhizobium and the control as well with significant differences during all of the studied seasons with various magnitudes.
-The interaction effect of the applied 3 factors on fresh or dry forage yield was not significant during all seasons. it is generally noticed that Prosopis chilensis was of the highest fresh and dry forage yield / feddan than Prosopis juliflora when planted at 3 meter distance apart and fertilized with Rhizobium + Azotobacter biofertilizer treatment.
C- Chemical constituents:
-Crude protein (CP) content:
-Prosopis chilensis was of the highest CP content than Prosopis juliflora in their leaves and brabches with slightly significant differences in all seasons except during the first spring-2005for branches where the difference did not reach the level of significant.
-Distance of 3 meter between plants was more better for producing slightly higher C P content in leaves and branches of Prosopis species in all seasons except for spring of the established year.
-Biofertilization with Rhizobium + Azotobacter was better than Rhizobium + Azospirillum then Rhizobium followed by the control with slight significant diffrences (in a descending order)on C P content of their leaves and branches in all of the studied seasons. The descending differences were significant of various magnitudes.
-The interaction effect of the applied factors under study (Prosopis species, distance between plants and biofertilization treatments)on CP content of leaves and branches for Prosopis plants was significant during spring-2006 for leaves and during the two autumn seasons (2005/2006) for branches. The highest CP content was obtained for Prosopis chilensis when planted at 3 meter distance apart and fertilized with the mixed biofertilizer treatment Rhizobium + Azotobacter for leaves and branches. Whereas, the lowest CP content was recorded for Prosopis juliflora planted at 2 meter apart without fertilization.
-Crude fiber (CF) content:
-The Prosopis juliflora proved to have the highest CF content as compared with Prosopis chilensis which have lower CF content with significant differences for leaves and branches during all of the studied seasons.-Distance between Prosopis plants showed slight significant effect with no specific trend on the C F content for their leaves and branches being higher in branches than leaves in all seasons and at any distance between plants.
-Any of the applied biofertilizer treatments either single or mixed (Rhizobium + Azotobacter, Rhizobium + Azospirillum and Rhizobium) produced slightly significant decrease in C F content of either Prosopis species (Prosopis chilensis and Prosopis juliflora) in their leaves or branches as compared with the control, in all seasons of the two growing years.
-The interaction effect between factors under study (Prosopis species, distance between plants and biofertilization treatments) on CF content of leaves and branches of Prosopis species was slightly significant during autumn-2006 for leaves and during the two autumn-2005/2006 as well as during spring-2006 for branches. Highest CF content was obtained for Prosopis juliflora at 4 meter apart (525 plant / fed), distance between plants during both spring and autumn seasons of the established year, without applying fertilization treatment (control) for leaves and branches. This result was not true during the two seasons of second growing year where 2 meter apart ( 1050 plant / fed) between plants was responsible for producing the highest CF content in leaves and branches without fertilization treatment.
- Total carbohydrate content(NFE):
-The Prosopis chilensis was of the highest NFE content compared with Prosopis junflora for their leaves and branches during all studied seasons with slightly significant differences.-As the distance between plants increased from 2 meter (1050 plant/fed) to 3 meter (700 plant/fed) up to 4 meter (525 plant/fed) apart there was slight subsequent significant increase in NFE content of leaves and branches of Prosopis species.
-Biological fertilization treatment Rhizobium + Azotobacter treatment produced the highest total carbohydrate content Prosopis branches and leaves, followed by Rhizobium + Azospirillum, then Rhizobium, followed by the control in a descending order as noticed in all seasons with variable significant magnitudes.
-Prosopis chilensis produced of highest total carbohydrate content when planted at 4 meter distance apart and fertilized with the mixed biofertilizer treatment (Rhizobium + Azotobacter).This result was noticed in all seasons. However, the lowest NFE content was recorded for Prosopis juliflora when planted at 2 meter apart without fertilization in all seasons.
- Ash content:
-The highest ash content was recorded for Prosopis juliflora, whereas Prosopis chilensis have lowest ash content for their leaves and branches during all seasons except for branches of spring of the established year.
-Distance between plants of Prosopis species did not exert specific trend on the ash content of their leaves and branches. This is because the range of ash content was very much narrow and the obtained values of ash content were fluctuatedand scattered of no specific trend to be detected in a clear reasonable logical manner.
-Biofertilization with Rhizobium + Azotobacter was better than Rhizobium + Azospirillum then Rhizobium followed by the control with slight significant diffrences on ash content in leaves and branches for each of the two Prosopis plants during all seasons.
-Highest ash content was recorded for Prosopis juliflora at 2 meter between plants (1050 plant/fed) receiving Rhizobium + Azotobacter biofertilizer treatment in their leaves and branches with few exceptions during spring and autumn seasons of the first established year.
-Total digestible nutrient (TDN) % :
-Total digestible nutrients content was higher in Prosopis chilensis than Prosopis juliflora for their leaves and branches with slight significant differences in all seasons except during spring of the established year for leaves.
-Increasing distance between plants from 2 to 3 meters gave the highest TDN content for leaves and branches of the two Prosopis species with slight significant differences in all seasons except spring of the established year for leaves.
-Mixed biofertilizer treatment (Rhizobium + Azotobacter), was more effective in producing higher TDN content than the other mixed treatment (Rhizobium + Azospirillum), followed by the single treatment (Rhizobium), then the control with a descending order with significant differences for leaves and branches in all seasons except for leaves during spring-2005.-The highest TDN content was obtained for Prosopis chilensis at 3 meter distance between plants and fertilized with the mixed biofertilizer treatment Rhizobium + Azotobacter. The differences were insignificant on TDN content of leaves during all seasons, meanwhile this result was significant during all seasons except the first spring-2005 of branches.
-Digestible protein (DP) °A):
-The Prosopis chilensis was of the richest DP content compared with Prosopis juliflora which was of the poorest content of DP leaves and branches with significant difference during all
seasons.
-Increasing distance between plants of each of the two Prosopis species from 2 to 3 meters apart (700 plant/fed) caused slight significant increase in DP content of their leaves and branches. However, the extra increase in distance between plants 4 meter apart (525 plant/fed) slightly decreased their DP content. This result was noticed for all seasons except during spring of the
established year.
-Slight subsequent significant increase in DP content of leaves and branches (of Prosopis species) was recorded for the control treatment, followed by Rhizobium, then Rhizobium + Azospirillum, followed by Rhizobium + Azotobacter for all seasons in an ascending order.
-It is generally noticed that highest DP content was obtained for Prosopis chilensis when planted at 3 meter apart (700 plant/fed) and inoculated with the mixed biofertilizer treatment Rhizobium + Azotobacter for leaves and branches during spring and autumn seasons-2006 for leaves, whereas suchdifferences were only significant for branches during the two autumn seasons 2005 and 2006. Meanwhile, the lowest DP content was recorded for Prosopis juliflora planted at 2 meter
(1050 plant/fed) without fertilization during all seasons in its leaves and branches.
It could be concluded that 3 meter distance between plants fertilized with Rhizobium + Azotobacter produced the highest values of plant height, stem diameter, height of the initiative branching point, number of branches / plant, fresh and dry
weight / plant, CP %, TDN % and DP % in this experiments for Prosopis chilensis than Prosopis juliflora.