Root growth pattern in Dalbergia sissoo seedlings influenced by application of VAM, Rhizobium and inorganic fertilizers

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of VAM, Rhizobium and inorganic fertilizers, alone and in combination, on root growth in Dalbergia sissoo seedlings. Nine combinations comprising three levels of nitrogen and three levels of phosphorus were main plot treatments and four biofertilizers levels (No inoculation, VAM, Rhizobium and VAM + Rhizobium) were sub plot treatments. Significantly higher root length and number of roots were recorded in dually inoculated plants than in VAM or rhizobium inoculation alone. Nitrogen x phosphorus, Nitrogen x biofertilizer, phosphorus x bioferrtilizer and nitrogen x phosphorus x biofertilizer interactions also resulted in significant increased root growth. Among all treatment combinations, dual inoculation of VAM + Rhizobium supplemented with 30 kg Nha and 75 kg P20S ha^-1 produced maximum root length.