Cynara Cardunculus) Plants Grown in a Salt Affected Soil

Middle East Journal of Agriculture Volume : 06 | Issue : 02 |April-June | 2017 Research Pages:779-788 ISSN 2077-4605

Effect of some simulative compounds on chemical composition, growth and yield of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) plants grown in a salt affected soil

1El-Hassanin A. S., Raafat N. Zaki2, A. M. Khlifa2 and A. A. Awed2

1Institute of African Research and Studies, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. 2Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agricultural Research Centre (ARC), Giza, Egypt. Received: 05 March 2017 / Accepted: 06 April 2017 / Publication date: 28 August 2017

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was carried out in a saline sandy clay soil at Kom Oshim, El-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt during two seasons of 2013/14 and 2014 – 15 on cardoon (Cynara cardunculus ) plants to study the effect of different nitrogen sources (urea as mineral, compost as organic fertilizer and Azospirllum sp. seed inoculation as bio-fertilizer). Foliar application of potassium humate, yeast and seaweed extract was used as bio-stimulants for alleviating the hazardous effect of soil salinity stress on some soil characteristics and their effect on some plant components and biochemical constituents. Results showed that the applying organic nitrogen sources, bio-organic and bio- stimulants improved soil organic matter content, soil pH, EC, available macronutrients contents. Bio- stimulant foliar application as seaweed progressively increased soil and plant leaf N, P, and K, while foliar application of K-humate increased plant leaf K content more than foliar application as seaweed in Cynara cardunculus L. It was also evident that, the application of compost and Azospirllum sp. seed inoculation as soil application in combination with organic foliar spraying (i.e., potassium humate, seaweed extract and yeast extract) resulted in an increase in yield and some characterices of plants and their components. Moreover, nutritional status, quality and biochemical components (sylimarin, silicristin and silibinin a, b, total carbohydrate, oil seed %, polyphenol and chlorophyll a and b) of grown plants were improved in a salt affected soil.

Key word: Cynara cardunculus L., bio-stimulants, nitrogen sources, Azospirllum sp. and salt stress.

Introduction

Cardoon plant (Cynara cardunculus L) is a Mediterranean species that naturally grows in harsh habitat conditions (arid region) with high temperature, high salinity and drought conditions (Benlloch- Gonzalez et al., 2005). The extraction of pharmacological active compounds from cardoon plant is potentially promoting where inulin compound in the roots of cardoon plant (Raccuia and Melilli, 2004 a and b) and cynarin and silymarin which are found in the leaves (Curt et al., 2002) improve liver and gall bladder function, and stimulate the secretion of digestive juices especially bile and lower blood cholesterol levels (Grammelis et al., 2008). In traditional European medicine, leaves are rich in polyphenols which have different purposes with pharmacological properties depend upon their constituents and extracts (Jimenez-Escrig et al., 2003). Recently, there has been an increase in the use of these polyphenolic compounds in cosmetics, (Peschel et al., 2006). Salt stress may inhibit seed germination and/or plant development during the variable growth stages, causing changes in membrane chemistry, cell and plant water status, enzyme activities, protein synthesis and gene expression (Chapin, 1991 and Blomberg and Alder, 1992). Salinity induced inhibitory effects on the biosynthesis of free amino acids, but opposite effects was observed on the biosynthesis of protein and proline in plants (Azooz et al., 2002). It has been shown that proline also possesses a key role in the stabilization of cellular proteins and membranes in presence of high concentrations of osmotic potential. Tatar and Gevrek (2008) showed that under drought stress, wheat dry mater production as well as relative water content decreased while proline content increased. Humic acids are characterized by a heterogeneous natural resource, ranging in colour from yellow to black, having high molecular weight, and resistance to decay. Humic acid, as a commercial

Corresponding Author: A. A. Awed, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agricultural Research Centre (ARC), Giza, Egypt. 779 Middle East J. Agric. Res., 6(3): 779-788, 2017 ISSN: 2077-4605 product contains 44-58% C, 42-46% O, 6-8% H and 0.5-4% N, as well as many other elements (Larcher, 2003). It improves soil fertility and increases the availability of nutrient elements by adsorbing them on mineral exchange sites. Humic acid have different effects on plants where Agbede et al., (2008) showed evidence of stimulation on plant growth by humic acids addition and consequently yield was increased by acting on the mechanisms involved in cell respiration, photosynthesis, protein synthesis, water, and nutrient uptake (Abdel-Razzak and El-Sharkawy, 2013). Seaweed extracts have many beneficial effects, since they enhance the seed germination and plant growth. They induce - resistance to frost, fungal and insects attach, reduce red spider, aphid and nematode infestation and increase nutrients uptake from soil. Also, seaweed extracts as liquid fertilizers has come in the market for a simple reason that they contain many growth promoting hormones like auxin, gibberellins, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, cytokinin and micronutrients. (Habashy et al., 2008 and Anisimov and Chaikina, 2014). Seaweed meals provide an approximately equivalent amount of N, less P but more K, total salts and readily available micronutrients compared to most animal manures. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is considered as a type of biofertilizer which is usually added as soil or foliar application to vegetable crops (Abd- El- Motty et al., 2010), due to its nutritional properties as well as its produce substances like growth regulators such as gibberellins and auxins (Mohamed et al., 2008), and its ability to produce a group of enzymes. Yeast treatment was suggested to participate with beneficial role in improving growth of vegetable crops as reported by Tung et al., (2003). Improving growth and productivity of vegetable crops by application of active yeast extract was recorded by El-Greadly (2002). Compost as an organic fertilizer has been dramatically increasing nowadays because it improves both soil productivity and crop production. Compost is believed to be able to supply many plant nutrients to soils. Study carried out by Dikinya and Mufwanzala (2010) revealed that soil fertility can be enhanced by compost application by way of increasing exchangeable bases in the soils. Furthermore, other nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus can be increased. Compost is one of the preferred organic fertilizers because of its high content of macronutrients (Duncan, 2005). Cation exchange capacity is also able to reduce ammonia volatilization and increase the affinity of ammonium ions binding (Ming and Dixon, 1986). Nutrient uptake efficiency of crops can be enhanced by applying urea (Ahmed et al., 2008). In addition, available nutrients in the soils can be retained for longer time. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer sources and foliar bio- stimulants, namely, potassium humate, dry yeast and seaweed extract on the yield potential and grain yield quality of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) plants grown under salt- stressed conditions in a new reclaimed area in Egypt.

Materials and Methods

Experimental layout:

A field experiment was conducted on a saline sandy clay soil at newly industrial city of Kom Oshim, El-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, cultivated with cardoon ( Cynara cardunculus L.) during the two winter seasons with complete randomized plot design with three replications. The studied treatments were carried out in plots with an area of 4 x 4 m (16 m2) each. They comprised three sources, control as recommended doses of PK; compost at the rate of 10 ton fed-1 and Azospirllum seed inoculation as main treatments. The sub-main ones are represented (potassium humate at rate of 0.5 g l-1, yeast at a rate 1 g l-1 and seaweed extract at a rate 0.5 g l-1) The main physical and chemical soil properties of the experimental field were determined according to the methods described by Klute, (1986) and Page et al. (1982) and results of analysis are shown in Table (1). The main characters of compost, potassium hamate, yeast and seaweed extract are illustrated in Table (2). The recommended agricultural practices of growing cardoon (Cynara crdunculus L.) were followed N at a rate of 175 kg fed-1 of urea (46 % N) was applied at two equal doses before the first -1 and third irrigations. Calcium super-phosphate (12.5% P2O5) at the rate of 200 kg fed and potassium -1 sulfate (48% K2O) at the rate 75 kg fed were added to the soil in two equal doses after 21 and 70

780 Middle East J. Agric. Res., 6(3): 779-788, 2017 ISSN: 2077-4605 days from transplanting. Irrigation was regularly carried out at 15 days intervals according to weather conditions to keep the moisture content at a favorite condition. Cardoon (Cynar crdunculus L.) plants were foliar sprayed by with potassium humate at 0.5g L-1, yeast at 1 gram L-1 and seaweed extract at 0.5 gram L-1 after 2 weeks of transplanting seconds then weeks later, while the third application was after 6 weeks from second addition.

Table 1: Some physical and chemical properties of the experimental soil. Soil characteristics Value Soil characteristics Value Particle size distribution%: Soluble cations (soil paste mmolc L-1): Sand 74.2 Ca2+ 10.94 Silt 9.9 Mg2+ 19.16 Clay 15.9 Na+ 51.11 Textural class SL K+ 0.99 Bulk density Kg m-3 1.53 Soluble anions (soil paste, mmolc L-1): 2- Wilting point % 11.28 CO3 0.00 - Available water % 6.15 HCO3 5.69 pH (1:25 soil: water suspension) 7.80 Cl- 45.25 -3 2- CaCO3 g Kg 113.5 SO4 31.26 Organic matter g Kg-3 3.5 SAR 13.17 ECe (dS m-1, soil paste extract) 8.22 ESP 15.24 *SL=Sandy clay Available nutrients (mg kg-1) N P K Fe Mn Zn Cu 19.36 4.92 187.29 2.05 0.50 0.03 0.02

Table 2: Chemical analysis of the used compost and bio- stimulant compounds. Characteristics Compost Seaweed K. Humate Yeast pH 6.8 6.12 6.30 5.50 EC dS m-1 0.2 2.18 2.00 1.30 O.M g Kg-3 591.2 330.0 720.0 470.0 O.C % 35.44 39.12 38..44 34.74 C/N ratio 16.45 16.23 13.77 9.90 Available macronutrient (mg kg-1 ) N 2.15 2.41 2.76 3.51 P 1.26 3.40 1.40 8.0 K 0.91 4.71 3.55 5.50 Available micronutrient (mg kg-1 ) Fe 2850 650.0 358.5 0.03 Mn 151.25 130.0 0.52 0.02 Zn 380.50 70.0 0.21 0.01 Cu 95.50 32.0 0.20 ---

Plant growth parameter and methods of its:

Plant height, dry weight/plant, leaf area, straw yield and harvest index were recorded according to Bremner and Taha (1966). Yield and its attributes of cardoon protein and N, P and K contents of leaves were determined. The chosen samples of leaves were dried, ground and wet digested and the digested product was used for determining N with micro-Kjeldahl (Chapman and Pratt 1961). Phosphorus was calorimetrically determined according to Watanabe and Olsen (1965) and potassium was determined using flame photometer according to A.O.A.C. (2005). Total carbohydrates and chlorophyll a & b in Cardoon leaves were determined using the methods described by A.O.A.C. (2005).

Soil analysis:

Soil samples were collected, air-dried, gently ground and passed through a 2 mm sieve to determine particle size distribution, organic matter, available soil moisture content according to Klute (1986), pH using electrodes pH-meter, electrical conductivity of the saturated extract of soil paste,

781 Middle East J. Agric. Res., 6(3): 779-788, 2017 ISSN: 2077-4605 water soluble cations and anions were determined in the extract of the saturated soil paste and available N, P and K according to Page et al. (1982).

Statistical analysis:

All data were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the least significant difference (LSD) at 0.05 significance level according to Snedecor and Cochran (1981).

Results and Discussion

I) Soil characteristics and available nutrients: a) Soil properties:

The effect of nitrogen sources, compost and foliar bio-stimulants and bio-fertilizer treatments on soil properties and the detectable nutrients at the maximum growth stage are given in Table (3).

Table 3: Soil properties as affected by adding different nitrogen sources, solely or in combined with the other treatments. Available contents of Treatments Foliar Organic matter EC pH macronutrients (mg kg-1) (T) spray (S) g Kg-1 (dS m-1) N P K 0 3.7 7.80 8.22 36.17 14.03 219.52 Hu 3.8 7.76 8.00 40.55 14.24 238.25 Urea SW 3.8 7.78 8.08 43.31 15.02 226.43 Ye 4.0 7.73 8.12 39.24 14.20 227.11 Mean 3.8 8.10 39.81 14.37 227.82 0 4.8 7.66 7.50 50.18 16.26 250.00 Hu 5.0 7.63 7.45 59.83 17.27 277.12 Compost SW 5.0 7.64 7.47 62.81 18.10 269.45 Ye 5.2 7.59 7.48 52.33 16.29 260.88 Mean 5.0 7.48 56.53 16.98 264.38 0 5.0 7.59 7.47 56.67 17.55 261.84 Hu 5.5 7.55 7.43 71.50 19.33 296.71 compost + Azo SW 5.5 7.56 7.45 74.12 21.11 291.70 Ye 5.6 7.53 7.46 61.67 18.00 275.21 Mean 5.4 7.45 65.99 18.99 281.36 LSD at 0.05% T 0.22 0.01 0.22 0.11 5.9 S 0.35 0.03 0.13 0.20 9.4 T×C 0.14 0.08 0.10 0.17 3.6 Azo= Azosparillum sp., Hu= potassium humate, SW= seaweed extract, Ye= yeast,

Results showed that the soil organic matter was significantly increased by the addition of different treatments under study, being the highest due to compost and the lowest on under Azospirllum seed inoculation treatment. Compared to the control, the increase in soil organic matter associated with the added compost, and bio- organic mixture with yeast were 0.48 to 0.54 %, respectively. The maximum values of organic matter were 5.4 g Kg-1 for soil received bio- organic mixture + yeast foliar. However, the corresponding relative increases of mean values of organic content in soil were 2.70 % for soil treated with urea treatments + bio-stimulants compared to urea (control); 29.73 % for soil treated with compost compared with control treatment (urea); 4.17 % % for soil treated with compost combined with foliar bio-stimulants; 35.14 % for soil treated with bio- organic mixture compared to control (urea); 4.17 % % for soil treated with bio- organic mixture compared to compost treatment; 8% % for soil treated with bio- organic mixture + bio-stimulants compared to bio- organic mixture treatment; 31.58 % for soil treated with bio- organic mixture + bio- stimulants compared to urea + bio-stimulants; 8 % for soil treated with bio- organic mixture + bio-

782 Middle East J. Agric. Res., 6(3): 779-788, 2017 ISSN: 2077-4605 stimulants compared to compost + bio-stimulants. However, results obtained from the main effects of foliar bio-stimulants treatments did not reveal any significant trend. It was also evident that soil organic matter content increased as a result of using bio- organic mixture + bio-stimulants > compost + bio-stimulants > urea + bio-stimulants > control. These results are in agreement with these of Mattilsynet (2009). Hussein and Hassan (2011) found that, its addition to sandy soils, resulted in an increase in organic matter content. Regarding effects of the various treatments on soil salinity, data in depicted in Table (3) show that accumulation of salts tended to increased slightly as compared to salining of soil before conducting the experiment. The higher evaporation process prevailing under the dry and hot climatic conditions. The soil electrical conductivity was found a decrease obviously upon follow sparing of K- humate, seaweed of yeast. The lowest value of soil E.C. was obtained compost + Azosparillum sp., treatment combined with K- humate. The relative decrease of mean values of soil EC (dSm-1) was 9.61% for compared with the soil control treatment; salinity values could be arranged in a descending order as follows: (bio- organic) with foliar bio stimulants > compost with foliar bio stimulants > Urea with foliar bio- stimulants, with value of 8.025, 7.764 and 1.46 %, respectively compared with the soil control. The reduction efficiencies of different treatments on soil E.C. values were as follows: (bio- organic) +K- Humate > (bio- organic) + seaweed > (bio- organic) + yeast than all treatments. The superiority of (bio- organic + K-humate) as compared to the other treatments might be attributed to the active organic acids that release from the organic and bio-fertilizer which might facilitate leaching of some soluble salts out the soil. These results are in agreement with those reported by Saharinen et al. (1996). b) Status of macro-nutrient availability:

The positive effects of bio- organic on available contents of N and P followed a descending order of (bio- organic) + seaweed > (bio- organic) + K-humate > (bio- organic) + yeast > control. On the other hand , the positive effect of bio- organic on available soil potassium content followed the descending order of bio- organic + K-humate > (bio- organic) + seaweed > (bio- organic) + yeast > control with a value of 13.32 % for bio- organic + K-humate compared to bio- organic treatment. This may be ascribed to decompositions activation of bacteria which increased the released nutrients from organic substances in soil into available forms. The aforementioned trend may be due to K-humate, seaweed extract and yeast treatments which are engaged protecting the plant membranes and proteins. These results are agreement with those reported by Antoun and Besada (1990) who showed that soil N, P and K were increased with the application of different organic manures and nitrogen bacteria or organic acids. Meanwhile, Raafat and Tharwat (2011) showed that soil N, P and K increased with the application of organic fertilizers. As organic materials in the soil decay, macromolecules of a mixed aliphatic and aromatic nature are formed. The organic substances in the soil have indirect effects involve improvements of soil properties such as aggregation, aeration, permeability, water holding capacity, micronutrient transport and availability (Amin et al., 2008).

II) Cardoon characters as affected by treatments and foliar spray of organic compounds:

1. Vegetative growth characters:

Table (4) reveals that compost caused positive significant effects on plant height, head weight, seeds weight and100 seeds weight. Such beneficial effects were maximal in case of the combined treatments of bio- organic (compost and Azosparillum sp.,). Foliar spray of bio-stimulants (K-humate, seaweed and yeast) also significantly increased these plant growth parameters at both growth stages; K-humate caused the highest effect where the (bio- organic) recorded the highest values compared with control. It was also evident from data of Table (4) that application (bio- organic) with bio-stimulants (K- humate, seaweed and yeast) significantly increased the dry weights. On the other hand, K-humate surpassed the other two bio-stimulants at planting. In this respect, many investigators found that K-

783 Middle East J. Agric. Res., 6(3): 779-788, 2017 ISSN: 2077-4605 humate was more effective than seaweed and yeast treatments in increasing vegetative growth of plants at two physiological stages of growth. The increase in dry weights of cardoon plants by applying (bio- organic) with bio-stimulants might be attributed to the increased in plant height as well as 100 seeds, as a result of increasing photosynthetic activity and improvement of cardoon growth. The interaction effect of the combined treatments compost application and foliar bio-stimulants was more obvious from the optimal records of seeds weight and100 seeds weight which were more apparent in cardoon plants grow in soil treated with bio- organic and foliar sprayed with K-humate. These results are in agreement with those reported by Amin et al. (2008) who found that a progressive increase in each of plant height, head weight were associated increasing seaweed level up to 200 mg l-1. Also, Raafat and Habashy (2011) found that N released from (organic materials) application led to a significant increase in the dry and seeds weight of plants. Foliar application of bio-stimulants significantly increased yield and its components of cardoon. El-Gabas (2006) on sunflower found that spraying organic acid had favorable effects on growth characters and yield particularly with the higher concentration. Moreover, Abdel-Razzak and El-Sharkawy (2013) reported that bio-stimulants increased the main stem length and caused the highest early yield of cardoon plants.

Table 4: Effect of soil treatments with compost and Azosparillum sp., or in combinations with foliar spray of bio-stimulants on plant growth characters. 100 Leaves macronutrient Plant Head Seed Treatments Foliar seeds (%1) height weight weight (T) spray (S) weight (cm) (ton) (kg) N P K (g) 0 74.0 10.70 45.52 16.8 2.18 0.19 2.14 Hu 85.6 13.97 56.74 18.3 2.51 0.21 2.30 N-mineral SW 83.3 14.21 54.92 18.1 2.45 0.23 2.27 (Urea) Ye 80.6 13.48 51.62 17.4 2.37 0.20 2.23 Mean 80.87 13.60 52.20 17.65 2.38 0.20 2.24 0 89.2 11.27 56.52 18.0 2.38 0.22 2.41 Hu 107.7 17.62 69.96 21.3 2.57 0.25 3.25 N-organic SW 104.6 17.58 65.75 20.3 2.59 0.27 2.98 (Compost) Ye 100.3 14.61 62.78 18.2 2.42 0.23 2.79 Mean 100.45 15.27 63.75 19.1 2.49 0.26 2.86 0 103.4 16.88 71.39 19.8 2.50 0.25 2.63 Hu 118..7 17.66 76.70 22.8 2.60 0.34 3.27 N-bio-organic SW 117.6 17.63 74.22 22.1 2.62 0.36 3.08 (Compost+Azo. Ye 113.5 17.52 74.12 21.7 2.56 0.31 2.87 Mean 111.50 17.42 74.10 21.6 2.57 0.32 2.96 LSD at 0.05% T 0.04 0.01 0.35 3.4 0.03 0.30 0.11 S 0.05 0.03 0.31 4.2 0.08 0.40 0.21 T×C 0.03 0.04 0.23 2.5 0.06 0.44 0.13 0 = without bio- stimulants Hu= potassium humate, SW= seaweed extract, Ye= yeast and OM.=Organic compounds.

2. Biochemical constituents of cordoon leaves:

The effect of (bio- organic + bio-stimulants) on chlorophyll a & b and carotene is evident from the data of Table (5). The combined treatment of (bio- organic + bio-stimulants) was significantly higher compared to compost or urea as separate treatments, which was also significantly over the control in increasing chlorophyll a & b contents of cardoon leaves. The treatments of bio-stimulants (K-humate, seaweed and yeast) showed a slight increase in each of chlorophyll a & b and total carotenoids in the leaves of cardoon plants compared with their controls after sowing (Table, 5). However, the highest values of chl a & b and carotenoid content were obtained in leaves of cardoon plants treated with K-humate and seaweed compared with the other treatments and control. The accumulation of photosynthetic pigments as a result of these treatments

784 Middle East J. Agric. Res., 6(3): 779-788, 2017 ISSN: 2077-4605 may be due to the increase in photosynthetic efficiency as reflected by an accompanied increase in both chlorophyll a & b and carotenoids content in the leaves of cardoon plants. Concerning total soluble sugars, polyphenol, oil, and carotene (Tables, 5) it was obvious that the treatment of (bio- organic + bio-stimulants,) was the only one, which caused a significant increase in soluble sugars and polyphenol over the control. In addition, the organic compounds treatments caused significant increases over the control, where K-humate, seaweed and yeast treatments showed significant differences over control in case of polyphenol, oil, and carotene. The effect of (bio- organic + bio-stimulants) on photosynthetic pigments and nutritional status of cardoon leaves could be attributed to the role of symbiotic N2-fixing bacteria, the availability of nutrients, the modification of root morphology and physiology by hormonal excretions of Azosparillum which resulted in an efficient absorption of available nutrients. The aforementioned results are coinciding with those of Shabani et al. (2015).

Table 5: Effect of soil treatment with foliar spray of bio-stimulants on biochemical constituents of cardoon leaves.

Chlorophyll Chlorophyll Carotenoid Carbohydrate Oil Leaves Seeds A B Soil treatments Foliar seed (T) spray (S) mgkg-1 Total

% polyphenol mgkg-1 0 9.98 17.13 5.63 17.83 11.35 11.10 8.80 Hu 10.68 19.82 6.81 19.31 13.81 12.91 9.68 N-minarl SW 11.15 20.21 6.88 20.18 13.64 13.10 9.72 (Urea) Ye 10.42 18.12 6.66 18.31 12.24 12.51 9.57 Mean 10.56 18.84 6.50 18.90 12.76 12.41 9.44 0 15.57 27.32 7.24 18.49 13.98 11.25 8.90 Hu 18.12 31.83 8.32 22.35 17.13 13.88 10.18 N-organic SW 18.74 30.97 8.36 22.54 15.56 14.62 10.20 (Compost) Ye 17.22 29.32 8.23 20.78 15.38 13.50 10.17 Mean 17.41 29.86 8.03 21.04 15.51 13.31 9.86 0 18.16 28.14 7.94 22.16 16.20 14.94 10.21 Hu 19.10 31.00 8.41 23.31 17.43 15.81 10.34 N-bio-organic SW 19.65 33.35 8.73 23.75 17.18 16.14 10.35 (Compost+Azo.) Ye 18.65 29.97 8.24 22.74 17.00 15.77 10.32 Mean 18.89 30.61 8.33 22.99 16.95 15.66 10.30 L.S.D. at 0.05 T 0.25 1.02 0.02 0.45 ns 0.39 0.02 S 0.22 0.88 0.01 0.52 1.29 0.45 0.03 T * S ns 1.76 Ns Ns ns Ns ns 0 = without bio- stimulants Hu= K-humate SW= seaweed Ye = Yeast

Organic compounds (K-humate, seaweed and yeast) caused significant effects on soluble sugars, polyphenol, oil, and carotene as shown in the descending order of (bio- organic + bio-stimulants) > compost + bio-stimulants > urea + bio-stimulants > (urea) control. These results indicate that the usage of bio- organic compounds significantly enhanced leaf chlorophyll content, carotene, total carbohydrates over the control treatment. Haroun et al. (1998) found that low dose of yeast significantly increased total carbohydrates content in seed plants. The effects of bio- organic and foliar bio-stimulants applications on the biochemical of sylimarin, silicristin and silibinin a & b contents in leaves of cardoon plants are depicted in Table (6). It was evident that all the combined treatments with bio- organic compound were significantly superior over compost or urea treatments for sylimarin contents in cardoon leaves as compare to the control. Also, single application of bio- organic and foliar bio-stimulants increased the sylimarin content. Yeast as bio-stimulants foliar application showed a slight increase on sylimarin content in the leaves as compared to control. Generally, K-humate or seaweed extracts were more effective than yeast treatment on the sylimarin leaves content. In this respect, Raafat and Tharwat (2011) and El-Gabas (2006) found that K-humate increased biochemical components, and attributed this to the biosynthesis stimulation of biochemical components. Moreover, Shabani et al. (2015) found that K-humate caused significant increase in sylimarin content. The effects of K-humate or seaweed and yeast treatments

785 Middle East J. Agric. Res., 6(3): 779-788, 2017 ISSN: 2077-4605 may be due to the increase in photosynthetic efficiency as reflected by the subsequent increase in both sylimarin content in the leaves of cardoon plants.

Table 6: Effect of soil treatment with chicken manure and Azosparillum sp or in combinations with foliar spray of bio-stimulants on biochemical constituents of cardoon leaves. Leaves Seed leaves Seed Leaves Seed Soil treatments Foliar spray Sylimarin Silicristin Silibinin a & b (T) (S) (µgg-1) 0 18.50 16.12 19.05 15.26 30.88 25.24 Hu 26.69 17.22 27.76 20.12 40.82 28.84 N-minarl SW 27.00 18.24 25.81 18.72 42.74 31.66 (Urea) Ye 26.38 16.20 21.40 17.40 29.84 26.40 Mean 24.64 16.95 23.51 17.88 36.07 28.04 0 28.38 21.80 27.62 22.61 44.10 33.72 Hu 30.23 23.54 31.21 24.79 50.18 36.12 N-organic SW 31.73 24.75 26.99 22.04 51.25 38.82 (Compost) Ye 29.99 22.14 26.09 21.19 49.07 35.74 Mean 30.08 23.06 26.48 22.66 48.65 36.10 0 29.12 20.00 25.26 18.61 48.46 34.51 Hu 32.64 25.38 32.18 25.78 53.40 38.12 N-bio-organic SW 35.55 25.74 32.11 24.12 53.64 38.29 (Compost+Azo.) Ye 31.73 24.62 30.86 23.86 51.83 37.20 Mean 32.26 23.93 30.10 23.09 51.83 37.03 0 = without bio- stimulants Hu= K-humate SW= seaweed Ye = Yeast

Concerning silicristin and silibinin a & b contents in leaves of cardoon plants (Table 6), it was obvious that the combined compost and foliar bio-stimulants applications showed higher performance over the control. Also, silicristin possessed a superior content when cardoon plant was treated with K- humate as a foliar application. The effect of compost on silibinin a & b contents of cardoon plant leaves could be attributed to the role of symbiotic N2 - fixing bacteria as Azosparillum sp., seed inoculation. Such effects have been reported as a main reason for increasing photosynthetic pigments (Marziyeh et al. 2016).

Conclusion

From the aforementioned results, it can be concluded that the application of different nitrogen sources (urea as a mineral, compost as organic fertilizer and Azospirllum sp. seed inoculation as bio- fertilizer), with the foliar application of potassium humate, seaweed extract and yeast as bio- stimulants for increasing cardoon plant yield and its biochemical components individually or in combination with compost. Stimulating vegetative growth and yield parameters of cardoon plants via the enhancement of the biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments was greatly improved as a result of the nutritional status of cardoon plants grown on a soil under salt stress condition.

References

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