Growth of Albizia Procera (Roxb.) Benth. Seedlings under the Influence of Microbial Inoculant (Effective Microorganisms)

Microbial inoculant as effective microorganisms (EM) was used to find out their influences on seedlings growth and development of Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. The seedlings were grown in a mixture of forest top soils and cowdung (3 : 1) kept in polybags. The EM solution at different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10%) was incorporated before and after a week of sowing the seeds. Germination as well as physical growth parameters like shoot and ischolar_main length, vigor index, collar diameter, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and ischolar_main and total biomass increment were measured. The nodulation status influenced by EM was also observed along with the measurement of chemical parameters viz. chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid. Both germination and the measured physical growth parameters were found significantly (P < 0.05) higher in seedlings treated with different concentrations of EM solution in comparison to control. Maximum growth was observed at 2% concentration followed by 5% and 1%. Nodulation was higher at 0.1% concentration of EM but it normally decreased with the increase of concentrations. Leaf pigments were also significantly (P < 0.05) higher in most of the treatments with respect to control. The results of the present study indicate that the EM technology might be useful to improve the growth of seedlings in the nursery. These also indicate that the associated beneficial organisms along with the polybag soils might be of value in improving the degraded soil or poor field soil for better nutrient and water uptake during the initial growth of transplanted seedlings.