RESPONSE OF POPULUS ALBA, L. TRANSPLANTS TO COMPOST, BIOFERTILIZERS AND MINERAL NPK FERTILIZATION

This investigation was conducted to investigate the response of Populus alba transplants to compost fertilization at four levels and Bio. and/or mineral NPK treatments (control, phosphorein, effective microorganisms (E.M.), phosphorein + effective microorganisms, a mixture of Bio. (phosphorein + E.M.) + 75% NPK and mineral NPK, full dose) on vegetative and root growth parameters and some chemical constituents. The obtained results indicated that, transplant height, stem diameter, whole transplant fresh and dry weights, main root length, fresh and dry weights of roots, as well as, chemical constituents including total chlorophylls, percentages of N, P and K were gradually increased by increasing the levels of compost fertilizer. Biofertilizers and/or mineral NPK fertilization treatments significantly increased all the previous parameters. Bio. + 75% NPK dose followed by mineral NPK (full dose) treatments were the most effective in this concern. The interaction between compost and Bio. and/or mineral NPK fertilization treatments was significant for vegetative and root growth parameters with the highest values for vegetative and root growth traits being obtained due to either compost fertilizer in combination with Bio. + 75% NPK dose or with mineral NPK (full dose)