Growth and Yield Responses of Triticale (X Triticosecale) to Biofertilizer Application Methods and Nitrogen Levels under Weed Competition Conditions

Recently, application of biofertilizers has been introduced as a new strategy in crop nutrition. In order to investigate the effect of application methods of biofertilizer in combination with nitrogen levels on yield and yield components of weed-infested triticale a field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab, Shiraz University in 2013-14 growing season. Experimental design was a split split plot with three replications. The main factor included weedy and weed free plots, subplots included three levels of nitrogen; control, 90 and 180 kg N ha-1 and the sub-sub plots were composed of Azotobacter biofertilizer application methods; seed inoculation, topdressing and without Azotobacter (control). The results showed that the effects of nitrogen and biofertilizers on plant height, number of grains per ear, 1000 grain weight, grain yield and yield components, N content in shoot and grain of triticale were significant. Seed inoculation of biofertilizer showed higher efficiency due to its close relationship with plant root systems. Nitrogen amendment had a positive effect on biofertilizer efficiency, so that application of biofertilizer without use of chemical N, had a lower impact on shoot N content. Application of biofertlizer combined with N fertilizer had a higher impact on shoot N content. Owing to a great competitive ability of this small-grain cereal crop against the weeds, triticale yield was not adversely affected by the weed interference.