A Trial on Improved Polybag Seedling Production System

Abstract

Polybag raised seedlings have many disadvantages viz., root coiling and distortion. Scanty lateral root development and frequent shifting operations. To deal with the problem, mounted angel Iron (MAI) beds have been designed. Polybags with perforations at the bottom are placed on these beds. The tap root is expected to get exposed through the perforations and air pruned leadling to development of fibrous root system. A trial was carried out to compare the performance of polybag seedlings of Dalbergia Sissoo raised on MAI beds with those raised on nursery beds. The observations suggest that the seedlings raised on MAI beds recorded significantly higher fibrous root biomass (dry wt.t.78 gm/seedling). Number of roots (47/seedling) and number of nodules (131/seedling) as compared to 0.84 gm./seedling, 31/seedling and 29/seedIing respectively, in nursery bed raised polybag seedlings. In case of root length and primary root biomass, the nursery bed raised seedlings recorded significantly higher values of 47.2 cm and 3.10 gm dry wt/seedling respectively as compared to 22.5 cm and 2.22 gm/seedling respectively in seedlings raised on MAI beds. No significant differenec was observed in case of seedling height, collar diameter, leaf biomass and total biomass. The improved polybags seedling production system has significantly enhanced the quality parameters of Dalbergia sissoo seedlings i.e. fibrosity and nodulation.