Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025)

Effect of bio-fertilizers inoculation on the growth and biomass productivity on the seedlings of shola tree species under nursery condition

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.7186
Submitted
12 January 2025
Published
21-07-2025 — Updated on 29-07-2025
Versions

Abstract

Under nursery conditions, this study evaluates the impact of biofertilizer inoculation on the biomass productivity and growth of three Shola tree species: Syzygium montanum, Syzygium arnottianum and Elaeocarpus oblongus. Treatments included the individual and combined application of Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria and VAM fungi, with an uninoculated control group for comparison. S. montanum recorded the highest growth parameters (shoot length: 39.23 cm, root length: 41.98 cm, dry weight: 5.35 g), highlighting that the combined application of Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria + VAM significantly increased shoot length, root length, total dry weight and shoot/root ratio across all species. Growth measures were consistently lowest in the uninoculated control. Over the six-month study period, all growth metrics gradually rose, indicating the synergistic effect of biofertilizer combinations in fostering the biomass productivity and growth of Shola tree seedlings. These results demonstrate the potential of biofertilizers in reforestation and sustainable forestry methods.

References

  1. 1. Baliga MS, Baliga BR, Kandathil SM, Bhat HP, Vayalil PK. A review of the chemistry and pharmacology of the date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Food Res Int. 2011;44(7):1812–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2010.07.004
  2. 2. Ramesh BK, Rajasekhar M, Kumar VK, Sampath KM, Appa R. In vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Syzygium alternifolium seeds. J Pharm Chem. 2009.
  3. 3. Gamble JS. Flora of the Presidency of Madras. West, Newman and Adlard; 1928.
  4. 4. Smith SE, Read DJ. Mycorrhizal symbiosis. Academic Press; 2010 Jul 26.
  5. 5. Bashan Y, Holguin G. Plant growth-promoting bacteria: a potential tool for arid mangrove reforestation. Trees. 2002;16(2):159–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-001-0152-4
  6. 6. Khan MS, Ahmad E, Zaidi A, Oves M. Functional aspect of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria: importance in crop production. In: Bacteria in Agrobiology: Crop Productivity. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2013. p. 237–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37241-4_10
  7. 7. Rangarajan M, Narayanan R, Kandasamy D, Oblisami G. Studies on the growth of certain ectomycorrhizal fungi in culture media and in the host under axenic conditions.
  8. 8. Kumari MPS. Response of certain horticultural crops to inoculation of VAM fungi, Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria. [MSc Agri thesis], Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India; 1991.
  9. 9. Maronek DM, Hendrix JW, Kiernan J. Differential growth response to the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatus of southern magnolia and bar harbour juniper grown in containers in composted hardwood bark-shale
  10. 10. Diem HG, Gauthier D, Dommergues YR. Isolation of Frankia from nodules of Casuarina equisetifolia. Canadian J Microbio. 1982;28(5):526–30. https://doi.org/10.1139/m82-079
  11. 11. Borges RG, Chaney WR. The response of Acacia scleroxyla Tuss. to mycorrhizal inoculation. Int Tree Crops J. 1988;5(3):191–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/01435698.1988.9752853
  12. 12. Sk AH, Srinivas P. Association of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and other rhizosphere microbes with different medicinal plants. Res J Biotechnol. 2013;8:6 .
  13. 13. Dela Cruz RE, Manalo MQ, Aggangan NS, Tambalo JD. Growth of three legume trees inoculated with VA mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium. Plant Soil. 1988;108:111–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370105
  14. 14. Gardezi AK, Ferrera-Cerrato R, Lara Fernandez V. Effect of the double inoculation of Rhizobium sp. and VA endomycorrhizae on Acacia cyanophylla in an andosol in Mexico.
  15. 15. Chatarpaul L, Chakravarty P, Subramaniam P. Studies in tetrapartite symbioses: I. Role of ecto-and endomycorrhizal fungi and Frankia on the growth performance of Alnus incana. Plant Soil. 1989;118:145–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02232800
  16. 16. Harley CB, Smith JM. Learning-An evolutionary approach. Trends Neurosci. 1983;6:204–08. https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-2236(83)90094-2
  17. 17. Douds Jr DD, Chaney WR. The effect of high nutrient addition upon seasonal patterns of mycorrhizal development, host growth and root phosphorus and carbohydrate content in Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. New Phyto. 1986;103(1):91–106. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1986.tb00599.x
  18. 18. Saravanan PP. Studies on nutrient amendments on Acacia species. [MSc (For.) thesis], Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India; 1991.
  19. 19. Smith SE, Smith FA, Nicholas DD. Effects of endomycorrhizal infection on phosphate and cation uptake by Trifolium subterraneum. Plant Soil. 1981;63:57–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374257

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.