Neem (Azadiracta indica) has economic and ecological importance to many people globally. This study was conducted to
determine the growth response of Azadiracta indica to Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and cowdung. The
experiment was laid in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three treatments (AMF inoculated, cowdung; CD, and
AMF+CD) and control (uninoculated), replicated ten times in polyethylene pots. Seedlings were watered twice daily for
twelve weeks. Germination rate, shoot height, number of leaves, and stem diameter were recorded. The data collected
was subjected to ANOVA, and the means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range test (DMRT) at p < 0.05. The
results indicated that cowdung with and without AMF increased the growth parameters more than only AMF inoculated
treatment. Generally, cowdung has a significant effect on early seedling growth compared to other treatments. It is
recommended that further research should be conducted to find out the effects of AMF inoculations and cowdung
treatment on these tree seedlings in the field after out-planting as the study was limited to 12 weeks of observation.
Furthermore, a comparative study to compare the effects of AMF inoculation and NPK chemical fertiliser on the
performance of A. indica seedlings and another important arid zone tree species for longer period to support this finding
was recommended.
Arid zone, Azadirachta indica, propagation, seedling, germination