Standardization of potting mixture for production of quality seedlings of Casuarina equisetifolia Forst.

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the efficacy of different potting mixtures on the growth of Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings in the nursery. Two and half month old seedlings with a mean shoot length, root length and total dry weight of 5.3 cm, 4.9 cm and 0.052 g/five seedlings, respectively, were pricked and planted in 10 x 15 cm size polybags containing various potting mixtures of red soil, sand and one of the following (i) FYM, (ii) vermicompost, (iii) goat manure, (iv) poultry manure, (v) sago waste, (vi) vermiculite, (vii) leaf litter and (viii) raw coir pith in ratio of 2: 1:1. Seedling growth attributes recorded at three and five months after transplanting, revealed that seedlings grown in the potting mixture comprising red soil: sand: goat manure in 2:1:1 ratio performed better than the other potting mixtures. It recorded increase of 50.3, 30.2, 24.3 and 65.6 per cent over control (red soil: sand: FYM), respectively, with respect to shoot length, root length, diameter and total dry weight of seedlings. Seedling grown in the potting mixture containing red soil: sand: raw coir pith showed dismal response. The seedling quality was compared with sturdiness and Dickson quality index.