Authors : K. Okunomo , B.O. Bosah , A.U. Ofuoku and J.N. Okunomo
Abstract: Investigation was carried out on the effect of Rhizobium inoculation on the Seedling Growth and development of Albizia niopoides in a glass house at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan Nigeria. This involved isolation of Rhizobium from this species microbiologically. There were four treatments in all namely 1 mL Rhizobium inoculation; 5 mL Rhizobium inoculation; 10 mL Rhizobium inoculation and control (without Rhizobium inoculation). They were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The parameters considered went height, collar diameter, leaf number and leaf area. Significant differences were recorded among the treatments with respect to plant height. 10 mL Rhizobium inoculation gave maximum height of 93.6 cm; Diameter increment of 0.77 mm (14 WAP), leaf number 14.7 and leaf area 193.4. The inoculated treatments produced nodule number ranging between 336.7 and 496.0 while uninoculated treatment gave 247.6 nodules dry matter production was directly proportional to the quantity of Rhizobium inoculation applied. 10 mL Rhizobium broth produced the highest nodule dry matter of 24.7 g which was significantly different from the control (13.97 g). No significant difference was recorded among the treatment vis-a-vis leaf and root dry matter production by seedlings of A. niopoides. it is recommended that Rhizobia inoculation should be adopted for the establishment of some nitrogen fixing tree where native Rhizobia is not available.
K. Okunomo , B.O. Bosah , A.U. Ofuoku and J.N. Okunomo , 2007. Effect of Rhizobium Inoculation on Seedling Growth of Albizia niopides (Spruce Ex Bnth) Burkart. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 45-50.