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Growth and Survival of Pinus Seedlings as Influenced by Different Mycorrhizae and Ordinary Soil Ratios in a Nursery

Edward Missanjo, Gift Kamanga-Thole

Growth and Survival of Pinus Seedlings as Influenced by Different Mycorrhizae and Ordinary Soil Ratios in a Nursery

A study was conducted to determine the effect of different mycorrhizae and ordinary soil ratios on height growth, root collar diameter growth, survival and root colonisation of pinus seedlings in a nursery for sixteen weeks. Seedlings were subjected to six different mycorrhizae to ordinary soil ratios treatments which were completely randomised in four replicates, namely: 1:0, 1:1, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20 and 0:1(100% ordinary soil) as a control. The results indicate that there was a significant difference on the mean height growth, root collar diameter, survival rate and root colonisation of the seedlings. The treatment of soil ratio of 1:0 (mycorrhizae to ordinary soils) had the highest mean height, root collar diameter, survival rate and root colonisation than the other treatments. These means that height, root collar diameter, survival rate and root colonisation of seedlings decreased with an increase of ordinary soils. Therefore, mycorrhizae soils are essential in the raising of pinus seedlings in the nursery and where pinus plantations are well established, the treatment ratio of 1:0 (100% mycorrhizae soils) is recommended for inoculating pinus seedlings at the nursery.