Growth, Biomass Production And Nodulation In <i>Acacia nilotica</i> (l.) Willd. Ex Del. Seedlings As Influenced By Inorganic And Biofertilizers

Manwindra Singh; Rakesh K. Garg; Avtar Singh

doi:10.36808/if/2024/v150i7/170051

Growth, Biomass Production And Nodulation In Acacia nilotica (l.) Willd. Ex Del. Seedlings As Influenced By Inorganic And Biofertilizers

Authors

Manwindra Singh Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab)
Rakesh K. Garg Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab)
Avtar Singh Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2024/v150i7/170051

Keywords:

Acacia nilotica, Biomass, Growth, Nodulation, Rhizobium, VAM

Abstract

With the aim to produce quality planting stock with minimum use of chemical fertilizers, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of inorganic and biofertilizers, alone and in combination, on growth, biomass and nodulation in Acacia nilotica, a very important leguminous tree species for rural livelihood. The treatments comprised of all possible thirty-six combinations of three levels of nitrogen (0, 30 and 60 kg N ha^-1), three levels of phosphorus (0, 75 and 150 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) and four biofertilizers levels (No biofertilizer, VAM fungi, Rhizobium and VAM fungi + Rhizobium). The experiment was established in factorial split plot design with nine combinations of N and P in the main-plot and four bio-fertilizer levels in the sub plots with three replications. Seedlings inoculated with VAM fungi and Rhizobium, individually or in combination, resulted in higher growth, shoot and root biomass and nodulation as compared to uninoculated and unfertilized seedlings. Among different doses of nitrogen and phosphorus, when applied individually, 30 kg N and 75 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 resulted in higher growth and biomass production of roots and shoots. Dual inoculation of VAM fungi and Rhizobium supplemented with 30 kg N and 75 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 resulted in maximum biomass and growth.

References

Bagyaraj D.J. (1984). Biological interactions with VA mycorrhizal fungi. In VA mycorrhiza (C L, Powell and D J Bagyaraj, eds.). CRC Press, Boca Raton. USA. pp. 131- 53

Blatchford N. (1978). Nursery practice. In: Forestry practice. Forestry Commission Bulletin No. N. 14 Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London, pp 5.

Chauhan Y.S. and Pokhriyal T.C. (2002). Nodulation and nitrogen fixation as influenced by Rhizobium and Mycorrhizal inoculation in Albizia lebbek (L.) Benth. Annals For., 10(2): 243251.

Garg R.K., Garg R.K. and Sharma S. (2022). Growth, biomass and nutrient uptake in Casuarina junghuhniana Miq. as influenced by application of Frankia, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and inorganic fertilizers. Range Mgt. Agrofor., 43(2): 269-275.

Giri B.R., Kapoor R. and Mukerji K.G. (2005). Effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizae Glomus fasciculatum and G. macrocarpum on the growth and nutrient content of Cassia siamea in a semi-arid Indian wasteland soil. New Forests, 29: 63â€“73.

Gomez K.A. and Gomez A.A. (1984). Statistical procedures for agricultural research (2nd ed.) pp 680. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.

Kalavathi B.P., Santhana K.P. and Divya M.P. (2000). Effect of VA-mycorrhizal fungus and phosphorus solubilzing bacterium in neem. Indian Forester, 126(1): 67-70.

Kaur A. and Kumar R. (2011). Interaction effect of inorganic and biofertilizer on growth and nutrient uptake in Dalbergia sissoo seedlings. Indian J For., 34(4): 397-402

Kaur A., Kumar R. and Gosal S.K. (2012). Influence of VAM and Rhizobium inoculation at different level of nitrogen and phosphorus on seedling growth in Dalbergia sissoo. Indian J For., 35(3): 259-300.

Krishan G., Bhandari A.R. and Tripathi D. (2000). Effect of dual (Rhizobium + AM) inoculation of the seedlings of Albizia lebbek under glasshouse conditions. Indian Forester, 132: 1047-52.

Kumar J. and Siddiqui M.H. (2004). Increased biomass production of Albizia lebbek (L.) Benth in nursery by the use of inorganic fertilizers. Indian J For., 27(4): 360-66.

Meena L. Yadav R., R.S. and Kumar S. (2017). Enhancing productivity, profitability and soil health through integrated nutrient management in ber-based hortipasture system in Rajasthan. Range Mgt. Agrofor., 38 (1): 100-107.

Mehta P., Rana B.S. and Verma S.K. (2012). Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on seedling growth and biomass of teak (Tectona grandis) on sodic soil. Indian Forester, 138(7): 624-627.

Parkash V., Aggarwal A.S., Sharma S. and Sharma D. (2005). Effect of endophytic and fungal bioagent on the development and growth of Eucalyptus saligna seedlings. Bulletin of the national institute of ecology, 15: 127-31.

Rajendran K. and Jayashree G.S. (2007). Effect of biofertilizers on quality seedling production of Acacia nilotica. J Non-timber Forest Prod., 14.1: 1-5.

Singh B. (2001). Influence of fertilization and spacing on growth and nutrient uptake in poplar (Populus deltoides) nursery. Indian Forester, 127: 111-14.

Singh N. and Puri S. (2006). Effect of Rhizohium and VAM on seedling growth and nutrient uptake in leguminous tree species grown in problematic soils. Indian J Agrofor., 8(1): 62-68.

Singh S. B. and Bhatnagar S. (2002). Response of Acacia nilotica to nitrogen and phosphorus in water logged sodic soil. Indian Forester, 128: 545-50.

Suvarna C.V., Jayasheela N. and Mamatha G. (2002). Effect of dual inoculation of Rhizobium and Glomus marocarpum on Albizia lebbek. Indian J For., 25(3): 323-25.

Verma R.K., Jamaluddin and Gera M. (2002). Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae on growth and phosphorus uptake in bamboo seedlings. Indian J Trop Biodiv., 10: 33-38.