BIOFORMULATION FOR THE QUALITY SEEDLING PRODUCTION OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA A. JUSS. IN TROPICAL NURSERY CONDITIONS

Nursery experiments were conducted to select the suitable biofertilizers combination to attain quality seedlings of Neem. The biofertilizers such as Azospirillum, Paenibacillus and AM fungus (Glomus fasciculatum) were inoculated by separately and various combinations with each other at time of seed sowing. Shoot length, root length, collar diameter, and shoot and root dry weight were recorded on 80 days after treatment. Results showed that the total length of seedlings and biomass were significantly increased in the seedlings treated with combined inoculation of Azospirillum + Paenibacillus + AM fungus when compared to control. Among the individual inoculation, Paenibacillus (T1) showed better response than other individual inoculation. Within double inoculations, Azospirillum + Paenibacillus (T4) was superior when compared with other double inoculations. In general Azospirillum and its combination with other biofertilizers had more root length and biomass than other treatments.