Studies on Seed Biology, Pre Sowing Treatments and Nutrient Response in two Species of Canes: Calamus thwaitesii and Calamus nagabettai
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Date
2015-08
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University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
Abstract
Rattans are economically important NTFP species. The species has become threatened due to increased demand, unscientific and unsustainable harvesting. Thus there is need to produce large stock of healthy seedlings by appropriate pre-sowing treatment and also by applying optimum level of nutrients. Hence the information on seed biology and standardized nursery techniques is essential. Hence, the present study was carried out in College of Forestry, Sirsi during 2013-2015.
The seeds of Calamus thwaitesii and Calamus nagabettai are recalcitrant and low germination directly influenced by moisture content. The critical moisture content was 30.61 per cent in Calamus thwaitesii 18.15 per cent in Calamus nagabettai below which zero germination was observed.
Among ten different pre-sowing seed treatments, significantly maximum germination percentage of 91.33 and 61.00 was recorded in treatment sarcotesta removed (T2) over other treatments in Calamus thwaitesii and Calamus nagabettai respectively. Other germination parameters were also significantly higher in the same treatment in both the species.
Application of vermicompost (20 g/seedling) and vermicompost + NPK (2 g/seedling) in both species increased over all seedling growth attributes. Total fresh weight also increased by 146.92 and 54.43 per cent and total dry weight of 298 and 180 per cent in Calamus thwaitesii and Calamus nagabettai respectively at 180 days after planting over control.
The results of the present study are considered as a key approach in increasing the overall performance of germination and seedling growth in both the species, which provides substantial benefit to the nurserymen for quality seedling production. These findings, therefore, considered to be cost effective approach in getting a mass quality planting stock and play a significant role in plantation programs.
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