Fertility and Soil Microbiology

Compost tea, showed toxicity effect against larvae of cotton leaf worms Spodoptera littoralis during ten days brewing time. Toxicity increased as brewing time increased up to 3 days then decreased gradually up to ten days of brewing. Inspection of compost tea indicated that there were twelve bacterial isolates, isolated from compost tea filtrate during the first three days of brewing which showed insecticidal activity against larvae of cotton leaf worms. Treatments which showed ≥ 90 % mortalities considered be succeeded so five bacterial isolates, 244, 482, 483, 722 and 723 which showed the highest mortality effect (90 to 100%) considered be succeeded on cotton leaf worms. Separated cells from two isolates, 244 and 483, showed high insecticidal effect against cotton leaf worm, finally metabolites from another two bacterial isolates, 482 and 722 showed high insecticidal effect against cotton leaf worm. Bacterial isolates 244 and 283 identified as Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. Similipneumoniae and the bacterial isolates 482 and 722 identified as Klebsiella pneumonia. Generally, it could be said that the toxicity of aerated compost tea against cotton leaf worm is related to its suitability for surviving some pathogenic bacteria which were effective either by bacterial cell or their metabolites (released toxins). Further studies needed to investigate the toxicity assays against various organisms and the field efficacy of compost tea and compost tea borne-isolates.

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of three organic extracts; compost tea (C.T), fermented olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and Amino Green compound (A.A), as well as yeast on nutrients uptake of sugar beet shoot (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivated in saline calcareous soil at Ras Sudr Experimental Station, South Sinai, Egypt, and irrigated with saline water (4.32 dS/m). Three application methods were used; foliar spray, soil drench and foliar spray with soil drench. Two treatments, with and without yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were added as soil drench. The results indicated that compost tea as a soil drench alone or with yeast increased the %N and %P uptake rates, the values were 126%, 174% for N and 255%, 322% for P respectively, however A.A. when added as a foliar spray with soil drench combined with yeast increased %P uptake rate to 324%. Fermented olive mill wastewater as a spray, soil drench or foliar spray with soil drench enhanced %K uptake rate to be 497%, 457, and 330% respectively, while when combined with yeast the percentages of rate increased to be 582%, 536% and 489% respectively. % Fe uptake rate increased to be 485% and 465% by adding A.A. and O.M.W.W. as a soil drench combined with yeast respectively, similarly % Mn uptake rate increased to be 1174% and 841% by adding A.A. and O.M.W.W. as a soil drench combined with yeast respectively. Adding A.A., O.M.W.W. or C.T. as a soil drench combined with yeast increased %Zn uptake rate to 349%, 343%, and 357% respectively. The results suggested that the interaction effect between yeast and organic extracts on nutrients uptake by sugar beet shoot was significant and decreased the hazard of salinity.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of three different organic extracts; compost tea (C.T), fermented olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and Amino Green compound (A.A), as well as yeast on sugar beet yield (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivated in saline calcareous soil at Ras Sudr Experimental Station, South Sinai, Egypt, and irrigated with saline water (4.32 dS/m). Three application methods were used; foliar spray, soil drench and foliar spray with soil drench. Two treatments, with and without yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were added as soil drench. The results indicated that, the plots treated with the (A.A), (OMWW) or (C.T) significantly increased the yield of roots, leaves, sugar comparing with the untreated plots. The corresponding increment values were respectively 49.5%, 59.8% and 23.9%, for roots, 50.5%, 47.0% and 79.7% for leaves, and for sugar yield were 58.8%, 63.7% and 25.2%. Both of OMWW and A.A treatments significantly increased the yield of roots and sugar comparing with C.T. While, C.T. increased the yield of leaves comparing with A.A. or OMWW, regardless of application method or addition of yeast. Yeast treatments significantly increased the yield of roots, leaves, sugar and sucrose content, recording increments of 22.1%, 30.4%, 28.4% and 5%, respectively. The interaction effect between yeast and organic extracts on yields was non significant .The application methods as soil drench of OMWW and as foliar spray plus soil drench of A.A gave the highest values of roots yield. The C.T, A.A and OMWW treatments significantly increased soil nutrients availability of N, P, Fe, Mn, Zn and K, compared with the control. Microbiological analysis of sugar beet rhizosphere revealed that the highest counts of total microbes, yeast, fungi and actinomycetes were detected in plots treated with A.A, OMWW with yeast and A.A with yeast, respectively. It could be concluded that the highest significant increases in roots and sugar yields were obtained by using yeast integrated with the treatment of (soil + foliar application of A.A) or (soil application of OMWW).These organic fertilizers successfully reduced the hazard effect of soil salinity conditions.

Twelve of bacterial isolates were isolated from El Salam canal (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6), homemade milk whey (E2, E3, E4, E5 and E5P) and clay soil from Moshtohor, Benha city, Qalyubia governorate, in northeastern Egypt (F). All isolates isolated on nutrient agar and King's media plates. Isolates were coded P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, F, E2, E3, E4, E5 and E5P. Those isolates were tested against mealy bug insect Phenacoccus parvus nymphs and adults by using leaf dip technique under laboratory conditions. Results showed a significant level of mortality for the most bacterial isolates after 72 h exposure period. Bacterial isolates P1, P2, P3, P4, P6, and F consider be succeeded against both two stages nymphs and adults of mealy bug since they showed mortality percentage more than 90 % during three days. With bacterial metabolites, for P1, P2, P3 and P4 considered succeeded against nymphs as they gave percentage mortality > 90 % while no any treatment succeed against adults. Bacterial cells free from metabolites of isolates coded E3 showed percentage mortality > 90 % mortality during three days with adults. While the effect against nymphs E4 and E2 showed percentage mortality > 90 %. Toxicity at LC50 level after 3 days exposure indicates that the bacterial isolate of E3 was the most toxic followed by bacterial isolates P4, P3, F, E4 and P6 against nymphs of mealy bug insects. While P6 was the most toxic against adults followed by E3, E4, F, P3 and P4.On the other hand, tested commercial insecticides: Malathion, Ashok, ALKANZ 2000 and Masrona oil showed 100 % mortalities after 3 days exposure against both stages nymphs and adults of mealy bug. The study proved also, the toxic action of bacterial isolates against mealy bug is due to its production of hydrolytic enzyme (protease) and ammonia. The present study highlights the remarkable use of bacterial technology to produce potentially valuable products (bioinsecticides) and is interesting from a conservationist point of view, as isolated native bacterial taxa are maintained in Soil Fertility and Microbiology Department with cooperate with Plant Protection Department in culture collection and bioassay in Desert Research Center and Agricultural Research Center, Egypt. We recommended further chemical and structural studies on the active principles of F, E3, E4, P3, P4 and P6 isolates.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of compost tea (CT) as an alternative biological fungicide for controlling chocolate leaf spot disease in faba bean, with different application methods, in addition to the effects on soil biota, yield and growth parameters of faba bean. Compost tea as a foliar spray (F) and as a soil drench (SD), significantly decreased disease severity, while increased it by seed soaking (SS). Soil drenching, significantly increased yield weight, number of leaves, pods and seeds and weight of seeds. Soil microorganisms were enhanced significantly with the foliar spray treatment. Peroxidase enzyme (PO) increased  by 200% by all methods. Polyphenol oxidase enzyme (PPO) reached 1411% by integrated treatment with F, SD and SS at 50% compost tea concentration. Total phenols reached 120% by SD at 25%. It can be concluded that compost tea after brewing for six days, can control chocolate leaf spot disease in broad bean. In addition, it improves almost all yield parameters, plant disease resistance against the fungal pathogen and enhanced soil microbs.

El-Salam canal water is planned to cultivate an acreage of 400,000 acre-1 located in north Sinai. In the present study, chemical (pH, EC, DO, BOD, COD, NH 4 , NO 2 , NO 3 , Ca, Mg, Na, K, SAR, Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn) and bacteriological (total bacteria, total and faecal coliforms) analyses were related to the permissible limits of FAO, WHO and Mediterranean countries for irrigation water. Representatives of pathogen and PGPR isolates were secured from the canal water and rhizospheres of some plants cultivated in El-Qantara Shark fields irrigated with such water. Based on biochemical properties and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the pathogens were identified as Escherichia fergusonii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella sonnei while PGPR were belonging to Bacillus altitudinis, Brevibacillus brevis, Paenibacillus xylanexedens and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. These strains did possess the ability to produce the plant growth accelerating compounds, abscisic acid (15.0-45.0 µg/ 100ml), cytokinins (1.2-90.2 µg/100ml), gibberellins (2.7-4.0 mg/100ml), indole acetic acid (73.0-203.0 µg/100ml), and polysaccharides (1.1-5.6 mg/ml). They successfully antagonized the pathogen E. fergusonii in nutrient agar culture media. The lettuce growth traits were found to be PGPR inoculation-dependent rather than irrigation water type-dependent.

Compost tea, showed toxicity effect against larvae of cotton leaf worms Spodoptera littoralis during ten days brewing time. Toxicity increased as brewing time increased up to 3 days then decreased gradually up to ten days of brewing. Inspection of compost tea indicated that there were twelve bacterial isolates, isolated from compost tea filtrate during the first three days of brewing which showed insecticidal activity against larvae of cotton leaf worms. Treatments which showed ≥ 90 % mortalities considered be succeeded so five bacterial isolates, 244, 482, 483, 722 and 723 which showed the highest mortality effect (90 to 100%) considered be succeeded on cotton leaf worms. Separated cells from two isolates, 244 and 483, showed high insecticidal effect against cotton leaf worm, finally metabolites from another two bacterial isolates, 482 and 722 showed high insecticidal effect against cotton leaf worm. Bacterial isolates 244 and 283 identified as Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. Sim...

The effects of interaction of compost tea with chelated EDTA or humic acid micronutrients on black cumin productivity were investigated. It showed that soil drenching or foliar spray of compost tea with chelated EDTA and humic acid micronutrients increased plant height, plant dry weight, weight of seeds, oil percentage and volatile oils of seeds. Interacted compost tea significantly (p < 0.05) increased N, P and K percentage in seeds and straw and NPK uptake when interacted with humic form or with EDTA form. The N, P and K values for interacted foliar spray compost tea with humic form were 54, 21 and 30 kg/f, and with EDTA form were 39, 13 and 20 kg/f. While values for interacted soil drenching compost tea with humic form were 39, 14 and 21 kg/f, and with EDTA form were 26, 10 and 15 kg/f. The difference between drenching and foliage application of compost tea with two chelated forms was not significant (p > 0.05) in the two seasons, for plant dry weight, weight of seeds and oil percentage. However it was significant (p < 0.05) with humic form in the second season for plant height and in the first season for volatile oils percentage. Compost tea when applying in conjunction with mineral fertilizers results in high performance in the availability, uptake and accumulation of nutrient elements and leading to increasing in black cumin productivity.

mail:-E his study was conducted to determine the effect of compost tea (CT) as an alternative biological fungicide for controlling chocolate leaf spot disease in faba bean, with different application methods, in addition to the effects on soil biota, yield and growth parameters of faba bean. Compost tea as a foliar spray (F) and as a soil drench (SD), significantly decreased disease severity, while increased it by seed soaking (SS). Soil drenching, significantly increased yield weight, number of leaves, pods and seeds and weight of seeds. Soil microorganisms were enhanced significantly with the foliar spray treatment. Peroxidase enzyme (PO) increased by 200% by all methods. Polyphenol oxidase enzyme (PPO) reached 1411% by integrated treatment with F, SD and SS at 50% compost tea concentration. Total phenols reached 120% by SD at 25%. It can be concluded that compost tea after brewing for six days, can control chocolate leaf spot disease in broad bean. In addition, it improves almost all yield parameters, plant disease resistance against the fungal pathogen and enhanced soil microbs.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of three different organic extracts; compost tea (C.T), fermented olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and Amino Green compound (A.A), as well as yeast on sugar beet yield (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivated in saline calcareous soil at Ras Sudr Experimental Station, South Sinai, Egypt, and irrigated with saline water (4.32 dS/m). Three application methods were used; foliar spray, soil drench and foliar spray with soil drench. Two treatments, with and without yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were added as soil drench. The results indicated that, the plots treated with the (A.A), (OMWW) or (C.T) significantly increased the yield of roots, leaves, sugar comparing with the untreated plots. The corresponding increment values were respectively 49.5%, 59.8% and 23.9%, for roots, 50.5%, 47.0% and 79.7% for leaves, and for sugar yield were 58.8%, 63.7% and 25.2%. Both of OMWW and A.A treatments significantly increased the yield of roots and sugar compa...

El-Salam canal water is planned to cultivate an acreage of 400,000 acre-1 located in north Sinai. In the present study, chemical (pH, EC, DO, BOD, COD, NH4, NO2, NO3, Ca, Mg, Na, K, SAR, Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn) and bacteriological (total bacteria, total and faecal coliforms) analyses were related to the permissible limits of FAO, WHO and Mediterranean countries for irrigation water. Representatives of pathogen and PGPR isolates were secured from the canal water and rhizospheres of some plants cultivated in El-Qantara Shark fields irrigated with such water. Based on biochemical properties and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the pathogens were identified as Escherichia fergusonii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella sonnei while PGPR were belonging to Bacillus altitudinis, Brevibacillus brevis, Paenibacillus xylanexedens and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. These strains did possess the ability to produce the plant growth accelerating compounds, abscisic acid (15.0 – 45.0 μg/ 100ml), cytokinins (1.2 – ...

In the present study, the effects of biosurfactant producing cells of different bacterial species namely Pseudochrobactrum lubricantisa, Lysobacter novalis, and crude biosurfactant extracted from Aspergillus niger were investigated as a cheap source to alleviate the availability of Pb 2+ for plants grown in El-Gabal El-Asfar area, Egypt. This is owing to these areas are basically depend on the reused wastewater for irrigation. Biosurfactant producing microorganisms were isolated from three different farms aged for 20, 40, and 60 years. The obtained results showed that, the biosurfactant producing bacteria decreased the availability of Pb 2+ in the outlet leachate during the leaching columns experiments. In contrast, Sr 2+ leachate showed the reverse trend that was observed with Pb 2+ . Taguchi approach indicated that, the mechanisms of biosurfactant producing bacteria are very complicated and interfused with each other. The most factors affected the available form of Pb 2+ and Pb 2+ existed in organic form was Pb 2+ concentrations, however the exchangeable Pb 2+ , Pb 2+ bond to carbonate, Pb 2+ bond to sulfate, and plant content the most influential factors was biosurfactant producing bacteria. The most influential factors affected NPK uptake by watercress were found to take the following sequence biosurfactant producing bacteria > Sr 2+ doses > Pb 2+ doses.

HE OBJECTIVE of this study was to survey the soil and assess the functional microbial diversity in relation to soil physicochemical characteristics and land uses of a representative watershed basin in the NW coastal region of Egypt. The area is classified, on basis of remote sensing as well as GIS facilities, into four (4) major landforms i.e. coastal plain, wadi course, piedmont plain, and plateau table land. Twenty (20) soil profiles, representing those landforms, were morphologically described, their physical and chemical characteristics and land uses were determined; and their diagnostic characteristics were assessed. Results indicated that soils generally belong to the order Entisols and could be placed, at subgroup level, to Typic Torrifluvents, Typic Torriorthents, and Lithic Torrorthents. Also, Topsoil samples were collected from the mentioned twenty sites and evenly distributed over the entire watershed. They were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics and the colony forming units (cfu) of nitrogen fixers, phosphate solublizers, cellulose, protein and starch de-composers were estimated. Soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, nitrogenase, urease, prote-ase, cellulase, amylase and phosphatase) were determined and Shannon and Simpson's diversity indices were used. The results based on statistical analysis showed significant correlation between-the studied soil characteristics and land uses‖ and-soil microbial groups and enzyme activities‖ of the study area. The findings of Shannon and Simpson indices of the studied microbial groups and enzyme activities indicated that the coastal plain soils have moderate functional diversity, soils of wadi course and piedmont plain have the largest functional diversity, and the lowest diversity indices were recorded in soils of the plateau table land. Correlation analysis showed that land uses was positively correlated with urease activity and negatively correlated with nitrogenase activity. In addition, microbial activities and population were negatively affected by gravel, calcium carbonate, hydrogen ion and salini-ty and positively affected by organic matter. The study outputs could support sustainable land management and participatory agricultural development process for rainfed agriculture in Egypt.

White rot is a serious disease of Allium spp. caused by the soil-borne fungus Sclerotium cepivorum. Among sixty eight bacterial isolates tested against Sclerotium cepivorum, three isolates gave best antagonistic effect. These isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefacienes and Bacillus velezensis depending on morphological, biochemical characters and on 16 s rRNA sequencing. B. amyloliquefacienes and B. velezensis were more active to solubilize phosphate and produce Indol acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, protease more than B. subtilis. B. velezensis was the most effective isolate to reduce pathogen growth in vitro. In pots experiment, transplants treated with different bacterial bioagent indicated significant reduction of disease index. The most efficient bacteria was B. velezensis followed by B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefacienes compared with infected control and fungicide treatment. High activity in polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase was detected in treated plants compared with control.

In the present study, the effects of biosurfactant producing cells of different bacterial species namely Pseudochrobactrum lubricantisa, Lysobacter novalis, and crude biosurfactant extracted from Aspergillus niger were investigated as a cheap source to alleviate the availability of Pb 2+ for plants grown in El-Gabal El-Asfar area, Egypt. This is owing to these areas are basically depend on the reused wastewater for irrigation. Biosurfactant producing microorganisms were isolated from three different farms aged for 20, 40, and 60 years. The obtained results showed that, the biosurfactant producing bacteria decreased the availability of Pb 2+ in the outlet leachate during the leaching columns experiments. In contrast, Sr 2+ leachate showed the reverse trend that was observed with Pb 2+. Taguchi approach indicated that, the mechanisms of biosurfactant producing bacteria are very complicated and interfused with each other. The most factors affected the available form of Pb 2+ and Pb 2+ existed in organic form was Pb 2+ concentrations, however the exchangeable Pb 2+ , Pb 2+ bond to carbonate, Pb 2+ bond to sulfate, and plant content the most influential factors was biosurfactant producing bacteria. The most influential factors affected NPK uptake by watercress were found to take the following sequence biosurfactant producing bacteria > Sr 2+ doses > Pb 2+ doses.

This work aimed to produce antifungal bioactive compounds from agro-wastes using cellulolytic bacteria, and to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities against faba bean damping off disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani. To achieve this purpose, a total of 34 rhizospheric bacterial isolates were screened for their abilities to degrade cellulosic compounds. The bacterial isolate which gave the best cellulolytic activity was identified as Bosea thiooxidans, according to its morphological, biochemical characteristics, and according to its 16S rRNA sequencing. Five native plants remains including; Pomegranate peel, chili waste, prickly peel, olive leaves and garlic stalks, were hydrolyzed by the selected cellulolytic B. thiooxidans strain UAB7, and their extracts were tested for in vitro antifungal potential against a number of fungal phytopathogens mainly; Rizoctonia solani, Fusarium moniliform; Pythium sp. and Phytophothora sp. Extracts of the decomposed garlic and olive wastes gave inhibition percentages ranging from 25-100%, against the tested fungal pathogens. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed cyto-morphological alterations and empty cavities in hyphae of the treated R. solani. Moreover, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the phenolic compounds present in the tested extracts were carried out. Results showed that among the tested phenolic compounds, kaempferol and phenanthrene were more abundant in the decomposed garlic and olive extracts, respectively. The fermented garlic and olive extracts were evaluated for their in vivo potency to suppress the damping off disease of faba bean caused by R. solani. Faba bean plants treated with the fermented garlic and olive extracts demonstrated significantly better disease suppression, compared to the infested control. Furthermore, bands recovered through the electrophoretic patterns of the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase isozymes in the infested control plants, showed wide differentiation in their intensities and forms, compared to the healthy and the treated plants.

In the present work, the dried biomass of soil isolated fungus Eurotium cristatum was used for synthesizing silver na-noparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape with average diameter of 16.56 nm and displayed maximum absorbance at 418. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study indicated the presence and binding of proteins with myco-produced silver nanoparticles. The optimum conditions for AgNPs biosynthesis were found to be at temperature of 40°C, pH of 8.0, substrate concentration of 500 ppm and fungal biomass wt. of 0.8 g. The AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri. AgNPs was built-in thin film nanocomposite (TFNC) membrane and the impacts of nanomaterial composition on membrane properties and desalination process were studied. The AgNPs produced membrane TFNC had better filtration performances than pure thin film composite membrane TFC. The TFNC membrane had enhanced water flux (32.0 vs. 16.5 dm 3 •m-2 •h-1) and advanced NaCl rejection (91.7 vs. 89%) compared to the TFC membrane. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the irrigation with desalinated water on yield and productivity of essential oil of the sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and lavender (Lavandula multifida L.). The irrigation with desalinated water reduced significantly the soil reaction, soil electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio and exchangeable sodium percent in rhizospheric soil, it also enhanced the growth and oil yield of both plants compared with those irrigated with salt water.

At the global level, sustainable horticulture faces many challenges due to climate changes in addition to limitations in water and land resources. Nanotechnology is an innovate strategy for sustainable agricultural development. This eco-friendly technology is becoming vital in modern agricultural practices, due to its role in improving plants production, protection with environmental security, biological supportability and financial steadiness. Production of nano-fertilizers is considered as the most important alternative to the conventional fertilizers and pesticides, due to their potential roles in crop production, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and mitigating the adverse impacts in soil. The aims of the current study were to highlight nanotechnology in terms of several important definitions including; nano-fertilization, biosynthesis of nano-fertilizers and the use of nanomaterial as an alternative to the traditional mineral fertilizers. This is in addition to the control of nutrient release in the soil, nanoparticles (NPs) role in enhancing the bio-agent activity, and the fate of nanomaterials in plants with respect to the toxicological data of any nano-product.