A field study was carried out to investigate the effects of seed inoculation with bio-fertilizer (Rhizobium), foliar spray with antioxidants i.e., salicylic acid (SA), ascorbic acid (AA) and SA+AA at 250 mg L-1 of each and their interactions on growth, yield components and some seed bioconstituents of pea plant Pisum sativum, L cv. Master-B grown on a salt affected sandy loam soil (EC=9.65 ds m-1), New Valley-Egypt during seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 towards maximizing its productivity under salt stress conditions. Pea seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium as a bio-fertilizer source before planting. Pea seeds were inoculated at sowing with N fixing bacteria (Rhizobium leguminosarum). The application of antioxidants to plants was done as foliar spraying after twenty days after planting and repeated three times a ten days interval. The following data were recorded, vegetative growth parameters, root nodule characteristics, leaves photosynthetic pigments content, fresh as well as dry yield characteristics and seed chemical compositions. Inoculation significantly increased all the studied traits of pea plant grown under salinity conditions compared with un-inoculation. Foliar spraying of pea plants with antioxidants also, significantly increased all the studied aspects of pea plant, SA+AA was more efficient than spraying either solely. Inoculation seeds with Rhizobium and foliar spray of SA+AA significantly increased all the studied characteristics. SA+AA along with inoculation was more effective in increasing all the studied characteristics. Inoculation with Rhizobium along with foliar spraying with SA+AA could be recommended for growing pea under saline conditions. |
