Agronomic Performance And Molecular Insights Into Nitrogen Management Of Citrus Sinensis L. Using Bio-Fertilizers And Nitrification Inhibitors

EL-Sayed M. Qaoud; Mohamed A. Abdein; Hoda A.A.  Desoky; Safia M. Ezzat; Fatma M.A.  Elkady; Ahmed Y.  El-Saman; Zeinab A. Zaki; Huda M.H. Ismaiel; Randa E.Y. Habasy; Lames Abd  El-Ati; Dina S.M. Ibrahim; Osama S. Mokhtar; Faisl M.A. El Shaib; Amgad M. Elazazy; Wafaa A.M. Shehata; Rania A.E. Abdelzaher; Antar M.A. Badran; Amira S.A. Abd  El-Rahman

doi:10.29284/b5czgt03

Authors

EL-Sayed M. Qaoud Horticultural Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
Mohamed A. Abdein Seeds Development Department, El-Nada Misr Scientific Research and Development Projects, Turrell, Mansoura, 35511, Egypt
Hoda A.A. Desoky Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Qalyoubia, 13736, Egypt
Safia M. Ezzat Statistics Department, Faculty of Commerce, Al-Azhar University, Girls’ Branch, Cairo, Egypt
Fatma M.A. Elkady Botany Department , National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed Y. El-Saman Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Zeinab A. Zaki Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Huda M.H. Ismaiel Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Randa E.Y. Habasy Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Lames Abd El-Ati Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Dina S.M. Ibrahim Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Osama S. Mokhtar Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Faisl M.A. El Shaib Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Amgad M. Elazazy Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Wafaa A.M. Shehata Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Rania A.E. Abdelzaher Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12619, Egypt
Antar M.A. Badran Plant Production Department, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
Amira S.A. Abd El-Rahman Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, Qalyoubia, 13736, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29284/b5czgt03

Keywords:

Bio-fertilizer, Nitrobein, Orange fruit, Molecular docking, Nitrapyrin inhibitor, AMO enzyme, PCA.

Abstract

The experiment examined the effects of various nitrogen fertilization treatments on 20-year-old Baladi orange trees at two locations in Egypt over the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 growing seasons. It employed a split-plot design with bio-fertilizer treatments as main plots and multiple mineral nitrogen sources as sub-plots. Key findings indicated significant effects of both mineral and bio-nitrogen sources, along with their interaction, on fruit weight, quality traits, and nutrient content across both locations. Analysis showed that the highest performance was associated with ammonium sulfate combined with nitrification inhibitors, while the application of bio-nitrogen consistently outperformed non-bio treatments across all measured traits. Most agricultural traits showing significant interaction effects across environments. Only the fruit juice (%) trait exhibited stable performance without any significant interactions. Mean comparisons revealed that the interaction between Bio-nitrogen and location was notably significant, with better performance in Ismailia (L1) compared to Qena (L2). Nitrobein (bio-nitrogen) in a rate of 5 g/tree (twice in February and June) interacted with 2.864 kg/tree/year ammonium sulphate 20% N plus inhibitor exhibited significant positive effects for average fruit weight, fruit size, fruit juice as well as the superiority for positive effect of N, P, K of leaf content, indicating the possibility of combine both high yield and good quality characters under various environmental conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated marked differences between bio-nitrogen and non-bio treatments, highlighting bio-nitrogen's effectiveness, especially in Ismailia location. Overall, these findings suggest that the effectiveness of biofertilizers is influenced by environmental conditions and should be tailored accordingly.

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