Effect of chemical and biofertilizers on growth of paulownia seedlings

Three separate field experiments were carried out on Paulownia kawakamii T.Ito seedlings at the Research and Production Station of National Research Center at Nubaria and Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., during two successive seasons 2006/2007 and 2007/2008.The first experiment was designed to investigate the effect of NPK fertilizer rates on growth and chemical composition of Paulownia kawakamii seedlings The treatments of NPK fertilizer were:NPK (1:1:1),(1:2:1 ),( 1:1:2),(2:1:1),(2:2:1),(2:1:2),(3:1:1),(3:2:2) as well as control (without fertilization).The second experiment was planned to study the effect of some microelements (Fe, Zn and Mn at 50 and 100 ppm for each element) on growth and chemical composition.The third experiment was carried out to study the effect of biofertilizer (liquid or powder) and NPK fertilizers on growth and chemical constituents. The treatments were(NPK 1:1:1, microbein liquid, microbein liquid+25 g NPK, microbein liquid+50 g NPK , microbein liquid+75g NPK, microbein peat moss, microbein peat moss+25g NPK, microbein peat moss+50g NPK, microbein peat moss+75g NPK , as well as control). The main results could be summarized as follows:The vegetative growth and chemical composition responded positively to all NPIC rates compared to control seedlings. Also, application of NPK fertilizer at (3:1:1) gave significant increases in all parameters. Stem fresh and dry weights, plant height, stem diameter affected by spraying the seedling with Fe at 50 ppm.Leaves fresh and dry weight increased by application of Mn at 50 ppm.Root fresh and dry weights, root number/plant, root diameter significantly increased with Zn at 100 ppm. Number of leaves and leaf area increased by Fe at 100ppm. The highest value of chlorophyll a,b and carotenoid contents were obtained with Zn at 50 ppm.The highest value of carbohydrates percentage in leaves, stems and roots were obtained with Fe at 50 ppm.Nitrogen percentage in leaves, stems and roots was high at Fe 50 ppm , phosphorus percentage in stem was high at Mn 100 ppm in both seasons.The highest value of potassium percentage was recorded with leaves at Fe 50 ppm, in stems at Zn 50 ppm and in roots at Fe 100 ppm in both seasons. Fe, Mn and Zn contents in leaves, stems and roots increased by their foliar application. All bio and NPK fertilizers improved growth parameters compared to control. The best results in regarding to leaf area and leaves fresh and dry weight were obtained from microbein liquid +75 NPK.The thickest stems and stems fresh and dry weights were obtained when Paulownia seedlings received microbein liquid +25 NPK.Microbein peat moss +75 NPK increased roots fresh and dry weights, root diameter and leaves number of seedlings.The plant height gave the highest values with application of NPK fertilizer alone at the rate of 100g.Application of biofertilizer at microbein peat moss + 75 NPK significantly increased carbohydrates and nitrogen percentage in leaves stems and roots. Potassium percentage in leaves and roots increased by using microbein peat moss + 75 NPK.Potassium percentage in stems responded positively to application of microbein peat moss + 50 NPK.Chlorophyll a,b and carotenoides contents of leaves were increased by application of microbein peat moss + 50 NPK in both seasons.,