A New Technique for Transplantation of Seedlings of Six MPTs Trees on Highly Saline Soil in Arid India

Abstract

A new technique was adopted for transplanting six month old seedlings in the field with salinity EC > 12dSm^-1, in which the polybag carrying the seedling was removed from the base, while the whole of the polybag was retained as such, in six species viz. Eucalyptus tereticornis, Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Ailanthus excelsa, Azadirachta indica and Prosopis cineraria. The transplantation was carried out post monsoon in September instead of rainy season (July). Most of the species showed a significantly high percentage of survival (52-85%) in the highly saline conditions. Although, Dalbergia sissoo and Eucalyptus tereticornis attained the maximum growth in terms of height (130 cm, 93 cm, respectively) and biomass (36.5 g ,19.1g , respectively) in the field after 6 months, yet the root and shoot weight ratio (2-folds) of Prosopis cineraria was the highest among all the species studied; the higher survival rate was due to maximum accumulation of biomass in the root zone (5.3 g/ plant).This is an adaptive feature for survival in harsh environmental conditions. The technique can assure good survival even in tree species which are reported to be sensitive to salts such as Dalbergia sissoo and Azadirachta indica, while the survival and growth of other salt- tolerant tree species viz. Prosopis cineraria and Acacia nilotica could be enhanced. Hence, this new technique can be used effectively to ensure initial survival and establishment of tree seedlings in saline arid conditions.