Effect of Different Levels of Artificial Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Growth of Pine Tree Seedlings

Mycorrhizal inoculation of pine seedlings for efficient water and nutrient uptake and consequent production of healthy, vigorous seedlings with high survival rate has been achieved in East Africa for over four decades by use of soil from mature pine stands. However, due to high soil transportation costs, many growers use locally collected soil leading to production of seedlings of ill-health. This study was done to determine the effect of different levels of artificial mycorrhiza on growth of Pinus patula Schldl and Cham. seedlings. Different levels of RHI-ZATECH®TM inoculants (0g, 16.5g, 33.0g, and 49.5g) were added to soil in 120 potting tubes at 2 cm depth and arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) having four treatments replicated thrice. Seedling height (Ht), root collar diameter (RCD) and Dry weight (DW) were measured as response variables, three weeks after inocula-tion. The data were subjected to one-way ANOVA to test the effect of different levels of the mycorrhizal inocula-tion on the growth parameters at 5% probability levels using SAS software and means separated by Tukey’s (HSD) test. There was significant increase in height growth (24.34%; p=0.0045), RCD (32.9%; p < 0.05) and DW (62.72%; p < 0.05) of the seedlings three weeks after pricking out due to the addition of mycorrhizal inoculant. This study recommends the application of 49.5 g of RHIZATECH®TM inoculum to potting soil in standard Pinus patula nursery tubes at a depth of 2 cm for increased height growth (24.34%), root collar diameter growth (32.9%), biomass (62.7%) and the production of P. patula seedlings of high vigour. Key words: Mycorrhizae, Forest soil, Pine seedlings