Behera, Madhab ChandraPanda, Pranab Kumar2024-12-052024-12-052022-05-31https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810216907The present investigation entitled “Germination and Seedling Quality of Selected Multipurpose Tree Species (MPTs) on Fly Ash Substratum” was carried out with the objective to study the changes in physiochemical properties pot mixture after admixing fly ash (FA) at specific proportions and impact of FA admixed substratum on germination and growth performance of selected MPTs. FA is a combustion residue generated from thermal power plant during burning of coal. It is generally treated as a major obnoxious solid waste and is being disposed in ample amounts every year. FA addition to PM in specific dose improved physicochemical properties as well as nutritional quality of the soil and thereby beneficial for plant growth. For the present investigation, FA substratum was prepared by admixing FA to potting mixture (sand, soil and FYM in ratio 1:2:1) at concentrations 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% & 100% (w/w). The physicochemical properties of FA substratum such as colour, texture, pore space, water holding capacity, bulk density, pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorous and potash were included in this study. For germination and growth performance study two fast growing MPTs viz. Bauhinia variegata L. (Kanchana) and Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. (Sirisa) were selected purposefully. Germination parameters like germination percentage (GP), MDG, peak value (PV), germination capacity (GC), germination index (GI), germination energy (GE), vigour index (VI) were recorded daily for 30 days. It was observed that best GP and GI was recorded in treatment T1 (20% FA+PM) for both the species. Seedling vigour index after 30 days was observed high in treatment T1 (1259.67) for Bauhinia variegata and treatment T2 (770.0) for Albizia lebbek respectively. All germination parameters studied were found lowest in treatment T5 (100% FA) for both the species under study. Parameters with respect to shoot growth viz. plant height, collar diameter, number of leaves and leaf area were recorded at 30 days intervals for 90 days. After 90 days parameters of shoot growth as well as root, biomass yield and chlorophyll content in leaf was studied. It was observed that seedling survival per cent was maximum 91.60% in treatment T1 for Bauhinia variegata and 91.57% in treatment T2 for Albizia lebbek. Seedling height and diameter growth was observed high in treatment T1 for both the species. Dickson’s quality index was also found high in treatment T1 for both the species. It is concluded from the present investigation that FA improved the physicochemical properties of potting mixture as well as quality of seedlings. It was concluded that FA can be utilized with a range from 20-40% (w/w) in forest nurseries for producing quality planting material, opening a new avenue for FA management and environmental protection.EnglishThesis