Effect of Rhizobium leguminosarum Inoculation, Vermicompost and SAP Application on Albizia julibrissin Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Traits Under Two Nursery Conditions in Sulaimaniyah City

• Kana Ali Mahmood Othman Kamil Aref Mohammed Mustafa Allawi

  Author

A factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, at the directorate of Sarchnar Nursery and Gardenia nursery in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan Regin-Iraq, to evaluate the effect of the inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum, Vermicompost, and Superabsorbent polymer application, on the germination and some of the growth traits of Albizia julibrissin. Rhizobium was applied at two levels (with inoculation, and without inoculation), while, Vermicompost added at three levels (0, 10, and 20 T ha ^-1), and SAP was mixed with medium at three levels (0, 2, and 4 g Kg^-1). The effect of all factors and their interactions were studied, Data were analyzed using XLSTAT software, and treatment means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. A t-test was conducted to make a comparison between the two nurseries. The results indicated that inoculation with rhizobium significantly improved seed germination parameters, and all growth parameters, including; leaflet area, chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, shoot and root fresh weight in both nurseries. Furthermore, the addition of 10- and 20Ts ha^-1 of vermicompost to the growing medium, significantly increased germinations parameters, leaflet area, chlorophyll content, and carotenoid content, shoot and root fresh weight in both nurseries. Similarly, the application of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) showed different effects. The addition 2g Kg^-1 of SAP improved germinations parameters, leaflet area, chlorophyll, shoot and root fresh weight in both nurseries, with carotenoid content in Sarchnar nursery. However, the application of 4g Kg^-1 SAP significantly increased all studied parameters in both nurseries. Furthermore, the dual and triple interactions among the studied factors significantly improved most of the measured parameters in this research