Response of variable nitrogen supply on growth of karonda (Carissa carandas) under sand culture

Abstract

Karonda (Carissa carandas I,.) seedlings were grown in sand culture to study the effects of nitrogen supply on growth and uptake of other macro and micro nutrients and to determine whether the leaf nitrogen concentration required for maximum growth of plants. Maximum height of seedling (25.93 cm), leaves/seedling (58.67), length (2.66 cm) and width (1.67 cm) of ieaf, fresh weight (0.070 g) and dry weight (0.0236 g) of leaf, leafaera/seedling (2.89 crn2), stem girth of seedling (0.301 cmi with T, (control) and length of primary root (19.83 cm) with T, ( 1.25 times of total nitrogen) were registered, whereas maximum 14.10 cm, 18.03 cm, 7.24 cm, 1.36 cm, 0.059 g, 0.0139 g, 2.73 cm2. 8.185 cm and 10.01 cm were recorded with treatment T, (without nitrogen in nutrient solution). Increasing nitrogen supply increased the leaf nitrogen content (1.43 5%) with T, treatment, whereas increasing nitrogen levels decreased the leaf iron content (132 ppm), however, when nitrogen was omitted from the nutrient solution, the leaf iron content increased (140 pprn) significantly. Other nutrients did not influence by the variable nitrogen supply. For better plant growth and production, the nitrogen level must be maintained in the range of 0.99 to i .37%.