Effects of Organic Manure on Seedling Growth and Nodulation Capabilities of Five Popular Leguminous Agroforestry Tree Components of Bangladesh

Abstract

An experiment was set to understand the seedlings growth and nodulation capabilities of five potentially important leguminous agroforestry tree species of Bangladesh in response to application of organic fertilizer. Study was carried out in nursery bed on the seedlings of Acacia mangium Willd., Acacia hybrid, Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth, Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. after sowing their seeds in polybags filled with different medium. Farmyard manure or decomposed cow dung was applied as the source of organic fertilizer with other potting media. The growth and nodulation performance of seedlings of the selected species were measured three moths after the first seed was emerged. The different soil: organic manure ratios' used during the experiment were, 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1. The effects of organic fertilizer on growth and nodulation were compared to that of seedlings grown in control. The results revealed a positive correlation between seedling growth and the different doses of organic fertilization (i.e. seedling growth was enhanced significantly with different treatments containing higher proportion of organic fertilizer). In few cases a negative effect was observed after applying higher levels of organic manure. It was also apparent that the nodulation in terms of nodule number and size was inhibited significantly by the application of organic fertilizer.