Abstract:
Aleurites molucanna, Eucalpytus camaldulensis and Terminalia catappa
are plant species that produce oil/biofuel, thus, they could serve as
alternative sources to the limited supply of commercial fuel when planted
en masse. The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation and addition of soil
amendments to these plants when grown in acidic conditions were
determined. Seeds used were grown in seven treatments: a control set-up
(uninoculated) and six different treatments. The treatments included
different biofertilizers and soil amendments namely Mykovam, Compost
and Biological Indigenous Microbes (BIM) used singly and in combination
with chemical fertilizer. Height, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root,
leaf area, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content and uptake were
measured/determined in a two- month duration nursery experiment.
Mycorrhizal infection was also determined. Results showed that the
mycorrhizal association observed in the plants in the control was due to
unsterilized soil used. Association was dependent on the host plant and
the treatments in the soil. Evident enhancement in the growth of
Eucalyptus and Terminalia when treated with biofertilizers and soil
amendments compared to the control was observed, however, there was
no evident enhancement in the growth of Aleurites. There were also
increased uptake in nitrogen and phosphorus in plants treated with
biofertilizers and soil amendments. These enhancements were attributed
to the increased nutrient uptake brought upon by the microorganisms and
the nutrient reservoir property of the compost. However, the effect of the
biofertilizers and soil amendment treatments on the growth of the plants
was comparable with each other, hence, implying that growth of the plants
in acidic infertile sites can be improved through the inoculation of effective
biofertilizers Mykovam and BIM and the application of soil amendments
such as chemical fertilizers and composts.
