Impact of bio-inoculants on seed germination and plant growth of guava (Psidium guajava)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the impact of bio-inoculants on seed germination and plant growth of guava at CCSHAU Regional Research Station, Bawal, during the period 2007 to 2008. The bio-inoculants tested were Azotobacter chroococcum, phosphate solubulising bacteria (PSB), plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhiza. Their impact on seed germination, plant height and other plant growth parameters was studied in presence of farmyard manure (FYM) as well as vermicompost. During the 2007 period, maximum percent seed germination (34.2) was observed in the treatment having FYM + PGPR or FYM + A. chroococcum at 40 days (DAS); followed by PGPR (29.2) and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) (25.8) treatments. While during the 2008 period, highest seed germination (51.1%) was observed in the treatment having FYM + PGPR or FYM + A. chroococcum at 40 DAS; followed by the treatments having FYM + PGPR + PSB + A. chroococcum or vermicompost + PSB + A. chroococcum (48.9%). Number of leaves per plant observed at 150 DAS were maximum in the treatment having FYM + VAM (18.8). Plant height at 150 DAS was maximum in FYM treatment having all the three bio-inoculants (31.5 cm). However, these values were quite comparable to each other in FYM as well as in vermicompost filled plastic bags. Key words: Bio-inoculants, seed germination, guava (Psidium guajava), phosphate solubulising bacteria (PSB), plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR), vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM), Azotobacter chroococcum.