Journal of Forest Science 2012 Nov; 28(4): 212-219
Effects of Organic Manure on Seedling Growth and Nodulation Capabilities of Five Popular Leguminous Agroforestry Tree Components of Bangladesh
Mohammad Belal Uddin1, Sharif Ahmed Mukul2,3,* and Mohammed Kamal Hossain4
1Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh 2School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072 Brisbane, Australia 3Centre for Research on Land-use Sustainability, Noakhali 3800, Bangladesh 4Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT
An experiment was set to understand the seedlings growth and nodulation capabilities of five potentially important leguminous agroforestry tree species of Bangladesh in response to application of organic fertilizer. Study was carried out in nursery bed on the seedlings of Acacia mangium Willd., Acacia hybrid, Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth, Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. after sowing their seeds in polybags filled with different medium. Farmyard manure or decomposed cow dung was applied as the source of organic fertilizer with other potting media. The growth and nodulation performance of seedlings of the selected species were measured three moths after the first seed was emerged. The different soil: organic manure ratios' used during the experiment were, 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1. The effects of organic fertilizer on growth and nodulation were compared to that of seedlings grown in control. The results revealed a positive correlation between seedling growth and the different doses of organic fertilization (i.e. seedling growth was enhanced significantly with different treatments containing higher proportion of organic fertilizer). In few cases a negative effect was observed after applying higher levels of organic manure. It was also apparent that the nodulation in terms of nodule number and size was inhibited significantly by the application of organic fertilizer.
Journal of Forest Science 2012 Nov; 28(4): 212-219 
