Growth and biomass production in Azadirachta indica seedlings in response to nutrients (N and P) and moisture stress

Abstract

Production of quality seedlings is an important aspect of successful tree planting. No information is available on the effect of nutrients and water on the growth and development of the seedlings of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), an important component of many tropical agroforestry systems. In an experiment in central India, the growth and nutrient-use efficiency of neem seedlings grown at various levels of light, nutrients (N and P), and water stress were determined. Seedlings were given light (diffused and complete) and nutrient (N and P) treatments comprising either high N-high P, high N-low P, low N-high P, or low N-low P. Seedlings grown in complete light (800 μ mol/m2/s) had four times more biomass than those grown in diffused light (200 μ mol/m2/s). Significant increase in seedling biomass was observed with nitrogen application, while phosphorus had no effect on biomass. Leaves contributed maximum biomass, followed by roots and stem. Nutrient use efficiency decreased with an increase in the supply of nutrients. In another experiment, containerized and bare-root seedlings were subjected to five watering treatments, viz., watering twice a week, watering weekly, watering every alternate week, watering every third week, and natural precipitation. Plant moisture stress affected both growth and survival of neem seedlings. Only 50 per cent of seedlings survived in severe drought treatment (no. 4) whereas 90 to 95 per cent seedlings showed growth in all other treatments. Plant moisture stress in severe drought treatment averaged −21 bar while in other treatments it ranged from −9 to −12 bar. Shoot-root ratio was high in bare-root seedlings as compared to containerized seedlings. Containerized seedlings had shown better endurance against drought than the bare-root seedlings. The results suggest that neem seedlings adjust their nutrient use efficiency and can be grown even under limited available resources. It is also inferred that the species can tolerate soil resource depletion caused by competitor species.