Response of Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz.) Grass to different Aeration and Fertilization Levels

The investigation was carried out in the experimental site of El- Delta Company for Fertilizers and Chemical Industries (ASMEDA) and the Laboratory of Vegetable and Floriculture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt during the two successive seasons of 2016 and 2017 to study the effect of four aeration levels [A₀: without aeration(control),A₁:intended three tines and the distance between them was 15 cm,A₂:intended four tines and the distance between them was 10 cm and  A₃:intended five tines and the distance between them was 7.5 cm ] and two different application rates of NPK fertilizers [ F₁: recommended and F₂: 75% of recommended]and their interactions on some vegetative growth parameters and chemical constituents of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz.) grass. The obtained results showed significant effects of aeration levels and different fertilization rates on studied vegetative growth parameters and chemical constituents of paspalum plants. During both seasons, significant increases were found in clipping fresh and dry weights (g/m²), chlorophyll a and b(mg/g fresh weight) and macronutrient percentage of paspalum plants grown under all aeration levels but the highest significant values were found under the fourth level of aeration (A₃) followed by the third aeration level (A₂) then the second one(A₁) and at least control (A₀). Also, the second application rate of fertilization (F₂) led to a significant increase in studied growth parameters and chemical constituents of paspalum plants compared to the first rate of fertilization(F₁). Regarding the interaction effect, the obtained data showed that the highest significant values of investigated growth parameters and chemical constituents were recorded in the treatment of A₃F₂, while the lowest values were those of A₀F₁ treatment during the both seasons.