Pummelo (Citrus maxima L) seedlings growth as influenced by bio-fertilizers and organic amendments

Abstract

Experiment was conducted in poly-house at College of Horticulture, Bengaluru to study the effect of Bio fertilizersand organic amendments on growth and establishment of pummelo under nursery condition during 2019-20. The nursery were established in potting mixture; sand, soil and farm yard manure in the ratio of 2:1:1 (Sand: Soil: FYM;) taken in polythene bags of size 12 cm x 24 cm. Applied with bio-fertilizers such as Azospirillum spp., Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Pseudomonas fluorescents, @ 6 g per plant (single / dual / combinations 6 g only) plus Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM), soil based bio-fertilizers @ 6 g per plant.A total of nine treatments were tested in four replications. The results at the end of 120 days showed that the inoculation of consortium of three bio-fertilizers; Azospirillum, spp. Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and VAM had produced significantly highest seedling height (36.32 cm), seedling girth (4.67 mm), number of leaves (23.10 no.), leaf area (28.25 cm2), fresh and dry Weight of shoot (17.47 and 7.16g respectively) in T3 treatment. The maximum fresh and dry weight of root (10.02 and 5.07 g), number of primary and secondary roots (37.95), length of primary root (35.95 cm) and root volume (10.34 cm3) was recorded the treatment Azospirillum,, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and Pseudomonas fluorescens and VAM at the end of 120 days in nursery.