Studies on Potting Mixture and Size of Containers on the Quality of Seedling Production in <I>Casuarina equisetifolia</I> Forst

Abstract

The studies were aimed to optimize the potting mixture ingredients, their proportion and size of the container (root trainers) for the production of quality planting stock of Casuarina equisetifolia Forst. Seven combinations of potting mixture ingredient (sand, soil, compost, burnt, rice husk and charcol) were tested in various ratios for the optimization of potting mixture in 150cc block type root trainers. Simultaneously, four different volumes (90cc,150cc,270cc and 300cc) of root trainers were tested for suitability of container size. Chemical and physical analysis of potting mixture ingredients were carried out for better understanding of nutrient status, porosity, water holding capacity, bulk density, pH and conductivity. The best seedling growth at five months age in terms of height(47.39 em), collar diameter (3.08 mm), total dry weight (4.5g), shoot dry weight (3.04g), root dry weight (l.47g) and quality index (0.26) was observed in potting mixture consisting of sand, soil, compost, burnt rice husk and charcoal in the 30 : 10 : 50 : 5 : 5 ratio, which was at par with potting mixture consisting sand, soil, compost in the ratio of 20:20:60. Larger size of containers (300cc) at three months age produced seedlings with maximum height (27.61cm), collar diameter (2.08mm) and dry biomass (4.75g), but had other disadvantages like more sturdiness quotient (13.67),less root shoot ratio (0.43) and no proper plug formation after 3 months. On the other hand seedlings raised in 150 cc root trainer resulted into low sturdiness quotient (11.18), more root shoot ratio (0.62) and good plug formation and considered for planting.