Nursery techniques to optimize seedling growth and field performance of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.
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Authors
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R.S. Bali
Department of Forestry,
Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal 249199, Uttarakhand, India
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D.S. Chauhan
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources,
HNB Garhwal University,
Srinagar Garhwal 246174, Uttarakhand, India
Keywords:
Containers, Field performance, Indian soap berry, Germination, ManureAbstract
Sapindus mukorossi, commonly known as Indian Soap Berry (family Sapindaceae), is found in Northern India East to the Himalayan tract and used in soap industry as well as medicines. A study was undertaken to determine the optimum conditions for germination and seedling growth of S. mukorossi using four different manures mixed with soil viz., CelrichTM (bioorganic soil enricher), farmyard manure (FYM), goat and poultry manures; three types of nursery beds viz., sunken, flat and raised; three types of containers (having different volumes); and three types of soils viz., silt loam, sandy loam and sandy. Maximum seed germination (%) was recorded in FYM, sunken bed, sandy soil and 4000 ml plastic pots as compared to other treatments. Based on these experiments, the best combination for optimum germination and growth in nursery for S. mukorossi was sandy soil + FYM + sunken beds or 4000 ml plastic pots. Seedlings of S. mukorossi raised in plastic pot, sandy loam soil, CelrichTM and sunken bed showed better performance in terms of plant height and collar diameter under field conditions.
