Annals of Agric. Sci., Moshtohor, Vol. 39(1): 197-209 (2001). ISSN 1110-0419 RESPONSE OF WHEAT PLANTS GROWN IN NEWLY RECLAIMED SALINE CALCAREOUS SOIL AS AFFECTED BY SOIL CONDITIONERS AND BIOFERTILIZERS BY Bouthaina F. Abd EI-Ghany* and Tewfike, T.A. ** * Desert Res. Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt. ** Agric. Botany Dept. (Agric. Microbiology), Faculty of Agriculture, Moshtohor, Benha Branch, Zagazig University, Egypt. ABSTRACT A field experiment was carried out in Wadi Sudr, South Sinai on wheat crop, (cultivar Giza 8) to study the effect of three soil conditioners i.e. composted garbage (CG), sheep dung (SH) in the rates 10, 15, 20 ton/fed and Evergreen 500 (EG) in the rates 0. 1, 0.2, 0.3 ton/fed, two biofertilizers, i.e. Azotobacter chroococcum or Azospiri/lum /ipoferum on soil microbiological parameters and wheat yield. Data revealed that application of 20 ton/fed of either SH or CG and 0.3 ton/fed EG soil conditioners increased the counts of total microbes, azospirilla, azotobacters and aerobic cellulose decomposers. Both of SH and CG soil conditioners were found to be more effective than EG during different plant growth stages. Association ofbiofertilizers with soil conditioners resulted in increasing soil organic matter, total nitrogen, protein content and total carbohydrates in grains compared to control treatment. Grain, straw and biological yields were increased as a response to biofertilizers particularly, Az.chroococcum and soil conditioners application (20 ton/fed) . INTRODUCTION Wheat is considered as one of the most important cereal crops in the world. In Egypt, wheat production represents only 5.7 million tons which account for 55% of the total consumption (Shabana et at., 1998). Moreover, it is considered one of the moderately salt tolerant crops which is suitable to be cultivated under saline calcareous new reclaimed soils.