Significant Use of Molasses and foliar application of Ca (NO3)2 on Improving of some Soil properties and yield of Rice under salt affected soils

Abstract

FIELD experiment was conducted at Kafr El- Sheikh Governorate, North Nile Delta area, Egypt during the two successive growing seasons 2020 and 2021 to assess the effect of different levels from molasses and foliar application of Ca (NO 3 ) 2 on some soil properties and yield of rice . Spilt- plot design was used, which the main plots were assigned to four treatments of molasses (i.e., M1: without molasses, M2:140 L ha -1 , M3: 280 L ha -1 , M4:420 L ha -1 ), while foliar application of Ca(NO 3 ) 2 treatments were assign to sub main plots (i.e., Ca1: foliar as tab water, Ca2: 0.5 g l -1 and Ca3: 1 g l -1 ). Results revealed that after the two growing seasons, increasing molasse application up to 420 L ha -1 led to a decrease in soil bulk density. Soil porosity had a different trajectory than bulk density, recording its greatest values during the same prior treatment. With an increase in molasses up to 420 L ha -1 , available concentrations of N, P, and K in soil as well as dehydrogenase, urease and total count of bacteria were greatly enhanced, with M4 and Ca3 recording the greatest levels. The interaction effect of the molasses treatment and foliar application of Ca(NO 3 ) 2 led to a highly significant increase in the chlorophyll content, 1000-grain weight, grain, straw yield, and total N-uptake. According to the trial, farmers could gain from using molasses and foliar application of Ca(NO 3 ) 2 because it boosts rice harvest while enhancing soil physical, microbiology and its fertility.