Effects of N fertilizer and a bioherbicide on Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) in a tomato field

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer and a bioherbicide on Egyptian broomrape in a tomato research field at College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran in 2014. Treatments consisted of several levels of nitrate ammonium including 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 and a biofertilizer as the first factor and how to use the bioherbicide including soaking seedling roots in bioherbicide, bioherbigation and no bioherbicide application (control) as the second factor. Application of 200 kg ha-1 nitrate ammonium reduced broomrape height and biomass up to 18.7 and 33.7 %, respectively. It increased tomato yield up to 26.8%. Bioherbigation also caused a significant decrease in broomrape height and dry biomass by 44.5 and 58.6 %, respectively. Our results showed that application of 200 kg ha-1 nitrate ammonium along with the bioherbicide can be a promising strategy to decrease the detrimental impact of broomrape and to increase tomato yield.