The experiments were conducted at, the Forage Research
Department, FeRI, Giza station, (ARC), during summer seasons 2001 and
2002 to evaluate the effect of different strains or bacteria as biofertilizers on
forage pearl millet. Inoculation treatments used in this investigation were
combined with 50% of N-recommended dose (60 kg N/fed). The obtained results proved that the use of biofertilizer especially
with Azotobacter spp. + Azospirillum spp. and Bacillus megatherium + 8.
po/ymyxa combined with 60 kg N/fed affected strongly the plant growth
through the positive effect on fresh and dry forage yields (ton Ifed) at all cuts
and seasonal yield. The same trend was obtained with plant height. number
of tillers, roots dry weight and mineral content especially P and K as well as
organic compounds, protein, fiber and ash yields. Pearl millet inoculated with
Azotobacter spp. + Azosp < /em>iriJ/um spp. gave mean values comparable with
those obtained when using the high dose or N-tertilization (120 kg N/fed).
Thus, it saves about 50% of the required nitrogen which reduces costs and
environmental pollution of mineral nitrogen fertilizer.