Effect of two fertilizers types (NPK15:15:15 and Urea) on the growth of Trichoderma harzianum

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of two fertilizer ( NPK 15:15:15 and Urea )on the growth rate of Trichoderma harzianum using different concentrations. The experiment was conducted in the Department of Crop Science laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin city. Treatment at different concentrations (1%,5%,10%,20%,30%,40% and 50%) were evaluated for bioactivity against T. harzianum. Data on effect of concentration, growth rate were collected over seven days period. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and was replicated three times. Data collected were to analysis of variance. Significantly different means values were separated using Duncan Multiple range test at 5% level of probability Results showed that the two fertilizer of different concentrations caused a reduction on the growth rate of T. harzianum. The most effective concentrations whose radial growth grew over the control for NPK fertilizer were 30, 40, and 50%. While 5 %, 1%, 50% and 40 % for Urea which resulted in the increase of the growth rate of T. harzianum after 7days but did not grow over control, only 30% Urea concentration had lowest growth rate which had a negative effect on T.harzianum hence it's incompatible with Trichoderma. Trichoderma is compatible with NPK15:15:15 at higher concentrations hence should be used by large scale farmers for growing crops and also to improve nutrient uptake.