A Sustainable Bio-resource Technology for Quality Seedling Production of <I>Casuarina equisetifolia</I> in Tropical Nursery Conditions

Abstract

To select the suitable organic source with biofertilizers to improve quality seedling production of Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings of 5-centimeter length were transplanted to root trainers with a potting mixture of sterilized substrate of vermiculite and inoculated individually and in various combinations with compost, seaweed fertilizer and biofertilizers. Results showed that the total seedling growth and biomass were significantly increased in all the treatments compared to control plants. Biofertilizers co-inoculated with compost and seaweeds produced the maximum growth, biomass and quality seedling. Among all the treatments, inoculation with seaweed fertilizers + biofertilizers + compost recorded maximum shoot length followed by biofertilizers + compost. These treatments recorded 7.02% and 5.1% increase over control. The total biomass is highest in seedling treated with seaweed fertilizers + biofertilizers + compost and it was recording 57.30 % increase over control. It indicates that the biofertilizers act synergistically when inoculated with organic and seaweed fertilizers.