NURSERY PRODUCTION OF CEDRUS DEODARA G. DON (DEODAR) SEEDLINGS OF KASHMIR HIMALAYAS: INFLUENCE OF MICROBIAL INOCULATIONAsifa Yousuf Wani, A.H. Mughal, Malik Asif Aziz and MariyaAbstract The present study demonstrated the use of microorganisms as bio-inoculants in forest species. The experiment was conducted to study the influence of microbial inoculation on the growth of Deodar (Cedrus deodara G. don) seedlings. Ten different treatments of microbial formulations namely Azotobacter chroococcum, Phosphorous Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), Potassium Solubilising Bacteria (KSB), Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZnSB), Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and combinations of VAM + PSB, VAM + KSB, VAM+ ZnSB, VAM + Azotobacter chroococcum including control were applied to few weeks old seedlings. After one growing season, growth characteristics viz; plant height, collar diameter, seedling survival per cent, root length, root-shoot ratio and total fresh and dry biomass production significantly increased in all the treatments. The results suggested that the dual inoculation of VAM + Azotobacter chroococcum showed maximum increase in all the growth parameters. However, survival of 95% was observed in seedlings treated with Zinc solubilising bacteria. The present study reflects the potential approach of different microbial consortia to be considered for nursery production of conifer seedlings to procure their rapid regeneration in general and reduce the pressure on natural forests for meeting the demand of wood derived fuel and timber in particular. |