Minimizing Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizers Losses to Mango Trees Using Urea-formaldehyde Slow Release Fertilizer and Nitrobein Biofertilizer Under New Valley Conditions

Abstract

A significant amount of chemical fertilizers are lost due to their widespread use in regions with high temperatures, which also pollute the ecosystem and lower soil fertility. Consequently, using highly nutritious, environmentally friendly fertilizers that are also compatible with the soil and environment is imperative. The application of fertilizers that give macro-and micronutrients to fruit trees is one of the key components of biofertilizer and nitrogen slow release fertilizers in agriculture. A two-year trial was conducted during the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Keitt mango trees orchard about five years old grown in sandy soil under a drip irrigation system from a well at a private orchard, in New Valley Governorate, Egypt. The main objective of this work is to study the effect of three rates of Nitrobein biofertilizer (0.0, 200, and 400 g/tree) and four rates of urea-formaldehyde fertilizer (0.0, 500, 750, and 1000 g/tree) on vegetative growth parameters, yield and fruit quality of Keitt mango trees. Briefly, Nitrobein and urea-formaldehyde treatments enhanced all studied growth, yield, and fruit quality traits. Nitrobein biofertilizer at 400 g/tree combined with urea-formaldehyde fertilizer at 1000 g/tree treatment proved to be the most efficient treatment in this respect.