Effect of Chemical Fertilizers on Ectomycorrhiza formation and Growth of Pinus kesiya Seedlings Inoculated with Scleroderma verrucosum

Effect of soil amendment with three chemical fertilizers (urea, superphosphate and murate of potash) on different growth parameters and formation of ectomycorrhiza in Scleroderma verrucosum inoculated pine (Pinus kesiya) seedlings was studied. When the fertilizers were separately applied, urea at lower concentration (100 mg/kg soil) was found to be most effective in increasing the fresh weight of pine seedlings as well as the per cent ectomycorrhiza formation. The same fertilizer (urea) at higher concentration of 500 mg N/kg soil was observed to be inhibitory to plant growth as well as mycorrhizal development. Combination of the three fertilizers at 100 : 50 : 50 mg N : P : K/kg soil could not affect the plant growth significantly. However, higher concentrations of the three fertilizers inhibited the seedling growth and mycorrhiza formation.