Two field experiments were conducted in the Agricultural Research Station at Arab El-Awamer, Assiut Governorate, during the two growing seasons of 2014 and 2015 to investigate the response of two grain sorghum genotypes productivity to bio- and nitrogen fertilizer in newly reclaimed soil. The randomized complete block design using split-split-plot with four replications was employed, where the genotypes (Hybrid 305 and Dorado i.e. G1 and G2) were allocated in the main plots, while nitrogen fertilizer rates (60, 90 and 120 kg N/fed i.e. N1, N2 and N3) were assigned in the sub-plots and bio-fertilizer (0, Microbin and Nitrobin i.e. B0, B1 and B2) were fixed in the sub-sub-plots. The grains of sorghum genotypes were sown on 13th and 17th June in the first and second seasons, respectively. The plot area was 12 m2 including 4 ridges of 60 cm apart with 4 m length.
The results could be summarized as the following:
- Hybrid 305 genotype surpassed the Dorado variety and gained the highest mean values of the plant height, panicle length, panicle weight and grain yield/fed, while the Dorado variety gave the highest mean values of panicle width and 1000 grain weight in both seasons.
- The all studied traits increased by increasing N fertilizer rates and the maximum values were achieved by the highest N fertilizer rate (120 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
- The Microbin bio-fertilizer recorded the highest mean values for the all studied traits in both seasons, but Nitrobin bio-fertilizer recorded the heaviest 1000 grain in the 1st season only.
- The G1xN3 (Hybrid 305 x 120 kg N/fed.) interaction treatments gave the maximum values for panicle weight in both seasons and grain yield/fed. in the 2nd season, as well as G1xN2 (Hybrid 305 x 90 kg N/fed.) gave the maximum values for grain yield/fed. in the 1st season. Moreover, the maximum grain yield/fed. (18.89 and 14.62 ard.) were obtained by G1xB1 (Hybrid 305 x Microbin) interaction treatments in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively.
- In general, the first order interaction; N1xB0 (60 kg N/fed. x without bio-fertilizer) interaction treatment gave the lowest mean values for the all studied traits in both seasons.
- The highest mean values for panicle weight and grain yield/fed. were recorded by G1xN3xB0 (Hybrid 305 x 120 kg N/fed. x without bio-fertilizer) and G1xN2xB1 (Hybrid 305 x 90 kg N/fed. x Microbin) interaction treatments in the 1st season, respectively.