Abstract
The effect of inorganic fertilizers like Urea, Single Super phosphate and Muriate of Potash of various doses was tested on Albizia lebbeck to optimize biomass production under nursery conditions. The data of dry weight, number of root nodules per plant and root-shoot ratio was taken from second month to seventh month. Maximum dry weight was found in 46 mg N + 17 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O followed by 23 mg N + 8.5 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O at the end of seventh month. Maximum nodules were found between the ages of third to fourth month, thereafter decreasing trend was observed from fifth to seventh month in all treatments. The treatments 8.5 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O, 15 mg K2O and 45 mg K2O were generally more effective in forming more root nodules than other treatments. The treatments like 46 mg N, 25.5 mg P2O5 and 45 mg K2O gave lesser root-shoot ratio at the end of seventh month. Correlation between dry weight and other growth components shows that to optimize biomass production, parameters like collar diameter, seedling height, number of leaves per plant and root length needs more attention than other associated parameters. Therefore, the treatments 46 mg N + 17 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O and 23 mg N + 8.5 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O were identified as significantly superior to other treatments for producing increased biomass production.
Keywords