Effect of five Trichoderma strains on growth and nutritional quality of Orchard grass

In this study, the effects of five Trichoderma strains, 3 strains of Trichoderma harzianum (M1, M2, HM), 1 strain T. longibrachiatum (LM) and T. reesei (LS), on growth and nutrient levels of Dactylis glomerata were evaluated under potting conditions. The results showed that the 5 Trichoderma strains had marked growth-promoting effects on Orchard grass. Compared with the control, the dry weight of the aboveground and underground parts, tiller number, and leaf width of Orchard grass, whose the mean values were increased 0.88 g, 0.40 g, 2.22, 0.31 mm, respectively, and the height and leaf length decreased slightly to 6.31 cm and 7.19 cm, respectively. Trichoderma infection could increase the dry matter, crude ash, crude protein, crude fat and calcium, and phosphorus contents of the Orchard grasses, whose mean values were 8.16%, 5.73%, 34.48%, 33.47%, 38.64%, and 5.95, respectively. All Trichoderma treatments effectively reduced the values of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of the Orchard grasses by 7.11% and 8.04%, respectively. The 5 Trichoderma strains could substantially improve the nutritional quality of Orchard grass. Strain M1 showed the most desired effects. In a later test, M1 was identified as Trichoderma harzianum.