Effect of growing media on germination and seedling growth of important agroforestry species of semi-arid region of Rajasthan
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Date
2020
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College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar
Abstract
The present investigation entitled as “Effect of growing media on germination and seedling growth of important agroforestry species of semi-arid region of Rajasthan” was laid out in CRD with three replications during June, 2019 to March, 2020 under the Instructional farm Fruit Science at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Agriculture University, Kota (Rajasthan). The experiment consisted of eighteen treatment combinations of four growing mediums of soil, sand, FYM and Vermicompost in different ratios. The study aimed to find out the best growing medium for following 3 species viz. Ardu (Ailanthus excelsa), Bael (Aegle marmelos) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) which are the main agroforestry species of the region. Seedlings were raised in the polybag of size 6” x 10” under green shade net nursery conditions. Different species exhibit different phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Same can also be seen in preference of treatment combinations shown by species. Best growth of Ardu, Bael and Neem seedlings was observed in treatment T12 [Soil:Sand: Vermicompost (1:1:2)], T5 [Soil:Sand:FYM (1:1:2)] and T15 [Soil:Sand:Vermicompost (2:1:2)] respectively. These 3 treatment combination gave best germination attributes, height (38.7, 12.5 and 33.5) cm, collar diameter (7.92, 1.54 and 5.21) mm, number of leaves (11.50, 13.65 and 16.42), length of longest tap root (22.65, 10.96 and 17.55) cm, diameter of tap root (3.79, 1.83 and 2.91) mm ,fresh weight of seedling (58.67, 19.23 and 56.90) g, dry weight (27.15, 9.09 and 26.34) g, root-shoot ratio (1.09, 0.56 and 1.09), chlorophyll content (3.40, 3.23 and 3.63) mg/g, survival percentage (72.19, 62.31and 76.37) % and benefit-cost ratio of 2.23, 2.97 and 2.23 for Ardu, Bael and Neem respectively. The results obtained from this study can be used to produce quality planting material of Ardu, Bael and Neem in the shortest possible time.