Effect of biofertilizers on growth and buddability of rough lemon seedlings in containerised nursery system
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Date
2016
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present investigations entitled “Effect of biofertilizers on growth and buddability of
rough lemon seedlings in containerized nursery system” were carried out during 2014-2015 in
Citrus Nursery, Department of Fruit Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Two
commercial growing media (Soil + FYM and Soil + FYM + Cocopeat) used in citrus nursery
were fortified with biofertilizers (Azospirillum, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and AM fungi)
alone or in combinations. The effect of growing media and biofertilizer combinations was
studied on growth of rough lemon and subsequently produced Kinnow plants. In general, the
growing media, Soil + FYM + Cocopeat resulted in better growth of rough lemon seedlings
and Kinnow mandarin plants as compared to Soil + FYM. Fortification of growing medium
with biofertilizers significantly improved growth parameters of rough lemon and Kinnow
mandarin plants. In rough lemon seedlings, the highest seed germination, seedling height,
seedling girth, number of leaves, leaf area and root growth was recorded with Azospirillum +
AM fungi. The highest improvement in growth of Kinnow plants in terms of sprout length,
sprout grith, number of leaves and leaf area was also recorded in growing medium Soil +
FYM + Cocopeat fortified with Azospirillum + AM fungi. Higher leaf N, P and K content was
recorded in growing media soil + FYM + cocopeat, irrespective of the biofertilizer treatments.
The colony count of actenomycetes, bacteria and fungi significantly increased by the
application of biofertilizers and the effect was more pronounced in the growing media ‘Soil +
FYM + Cocopeat’ as compared to ‘Soil + FYM’. The root colonization, spore count of AM
fungi, root phosphorous content and phosphorus content in growing media were highest for
the biofertilizer combination Azospirillum + AM fungi in the growing media Soil + FYM +
Cocopeat. The growing medium Soil + FYM + Cocopeat fortified with Azospirillum + AM
fungi resulted in better growth and development of rough seedlings and Kinnow plants.