RESPONSE OF Pinus halepensis Mill. AND Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. SEEDLINGS TO SOME TREATMENTS OF BIOFERTILIZERS, BIOSTIMULANTS AND MINERAL NUTRIENTS

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Experimental Nursery of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, during two seasons 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 to study the response of Pinus halepensis Mill. and Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. seedlings to some treatments of biofertilizers, biostimulants and mineral nutrients. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: 1. The inoculation with (NFB) significantly increased plant height and number of branches of P. halepensis in both seasons, while (AMF) resulted in the longest branches and leaves (needles), the heaviest stem fresh and dry weights. The treatment of (PSB) produced the thickest of stems and main roots as well as the longest roots and increased the fresh and dry weights of leaves and roots. The treatments of (GSB) and (PSB) were the most effective in case of pigments (chall-a, b and cartonoieds). The content of total carbohydrates increased markedly with (NFB). 2. Spraying P. halepensis seedlings with Zn at 100 ppm gave the tallest plants and branches as well as the thickest stems, the heaviest fresh and dry stems. Whereas, the maximum number of branches/plant and the heaviest fresh leaves were produced by treating with Se at 5 ppm. The highest values of needles length, main root diameter and length as well as fresh and dry weight of roots were recorded in plants sprayed with Ni at 10 ppm. Spraying pine plants with Se at 5 ppm and Ni at 10 and 5 ppm resulted in the maximum values of chlorophyll-a, while, the highest content the of chlorophyll-b was produced by Co and Ni at 10 ppm. Treatments of Zn at 50 and 100 ppm