Back S. R. Pandey, M. A. U. Mridha1 and M. K. Hossain
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong,
4331 Bangladesh and
Department of Botany, University of Chittagong, 4331 Bangladesh1
Abstract
The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of microbial inoculant (EM-Bokashi)
on germination, seedling growth and nodulation of Albizia procera in the
nursery. EM-Bokashi was prepared in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions
and incorporated at the rate of 1%, 5% and 10% with forest sandy soil collected
from Chittagong University Campus. The mixtures were kept in separate polybags
(25 cm X 10 cm). Altogether there were five treatments including the control
(Anaerobic Bokashi with EM, Anaerobic Bokashi without EM, Aerobic Bokashi
with EM, Aerobic Bokashi without EM and Control). Sterilized seeds of A.
procera were sown and seed germination was recorded every 24 hours up to
the final germination. After 4 weeks of germination, seedling height, collar
diameter, root length, shoot and root fresh and dry weight and nodule number
were recorded. Germination value, germination energy, quality index and
vigor index value were calculated. Seedling growth parameters were considerably
promising in the Bokashi added treatments than control. Maximum germination
(76.66%) was found in Aerobic Bokashi without EM and the lowest (56.66%)
was found in Anaerobic Bokashi with EM. Seeds in Anaerobic Bokashi without
EM possessed highest germination energy followed by Aerobic Bokashi with
EM, aerobic Bokashi without EM, Anaerobic Bokashi with EM, and control
treatments respectively. Nodule number was maximum (42.6) in Anaerobic
Bokashi with EM followed by Anaerobic Bokashi without EM, Aerobic Bokashi
without EM, Aerobic Bokashi with EM and the minimum (8.17) was recorded
in the control. The findings indicate that EM-Bokashi mixed with soil has
beneficial influences on the growth and nodulation of the Albizia procera
seedlings in the nursery.