Biogas Slurry with Mycorrhizae Boosts the Growth of Rough Lemon Seedlings and Bud Survivability

The availability and uptake of nutrients by nursery seedlings are significantly enhanced through rhizosphere modification using organic manures enriched with beneficial mycorrhizal isolates. This study evaluated the efficacy of organic media (soil, soil + farmyard manure + cocopeat, and soil + biogas slurry) fortified with various arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) strains, including Funneliformis mosseae, Gigaspora, Acaulospora sp., and a consortium of AMF, to improve the growth and bud survival of rough lemon nursery plants. Among the treatments, soil + biogas slurry exhibited the highest germination rates, as well as superior shoot and root growth of rough lemon seedlings. When combined with the AMF consortium, this media further optimized seedling performance, showing the greatest percentage of germination, seedling height, stem diameter, leaf count, plant biomass, tap root length and diameter, number of secondary roots, and microbial population. Additionally, the highest success in T-budding, sprout length and diameter, leaf area, number of leaves, and nutrient content in both leaves and roots was observed in Kinnow buds grafted onto rough lemon seedlings grown in soil + biogas slurry with the AMF consortium. Therefore, the fortification of organic nursery media with potent AMF isolates proves to be a promising strategy for nurserymen, enhancing seedling establishment, growth, and bud take in rough lemon nursery operations.