Field performance of Himalayan cypress (Cupressus torulosa) seedlings inoculated with selected species of microbial inoculants under temperate conditions of Kashmir

Abstract

A pot experiment was carried out to study the field performance of Himalayan Cypress seedlings inoculated with selected species of bio-inoculants under temperate field conditions. The experiment was laid in Completely Randomized Design with three replications which comprised of seven inoculants (Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Pisolithus tinctorius, Laccaria laccata and control). Various growth characters viz., shoot height, collar diameter, root length, and seedling survival at various intervals responded significantly to all the microbial inoculants. Among microbial inoculants the two mycorrhizae viz., Pisolithus tinctorius and Laccaria laccata proved beneficial for all growth parameters than rest of the inoculants. It was followed by Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis. However for root length Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis gave best results than Azotobacter sp. and Azospirillum sp. Microbial inoculation of Pisolithus tinctorius and Laccaria laccata gave best results with respect to per cent decrease in seedling mortality rate of the species. Thus the two treatments viz; Pisolithus tinctorius and Laccaria laccata proved superior for all the studied growth parameters. Our findings show that the application of bio-inoculants improve the growth attributes of Himalayan Cypress seedlings under natural field conditions.