Effect of growing media on seed germination and growth parameters of Papaya seedlings

Abstract

The investigation entitled present “Effect of growing media on seed germination and growth parameters of papaya seedlings” was conducted at Agriculture Farm, Lovely Professional University Phagwara, Punjab, during the year 2018-19. The experiment was carried out to study the effect of different potting media of papaya seedlings under shed net condition. The experimental material consisted of 9 treatments and 3 replications under completely randomized design (CRD). The different types of media were used with different ratios viz. T1: Soil + FYM (1:1), T2: Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), T3: Soil + FYM (2:1), T4: Soil + Vermicompost (2:1) T5: Soil + FYM (3:1), T6: Soil + Vermicompost (3:1), T7: Soil + FYM (1:2), T8: Soil + Vermicompost (1:2) and T9: Control. Among the different combination of growing media, Soil + Vermicompost (1:2) i.e. T8 and Soil + Vermicompost (1:1) i.e. T2 were found to most effective for minimum number of days (11) taken to seed germination. Maximum germination percentage (96.67%) was recorded with the treatment of Soil + Vermicompost (1:2) i.e. T8 as well as Soil + Vermicompost (1:1) i.e. T2. Maximum seedling height (10.30 cm) recorded in T8: Soil + Vermicompost (1:2), Maximum number of leaves (8) was recorded with the treatment of Soil + Vermicompost (1:2) i.e. T8 as well as Soil + Vermicompost (1:1) i.e. T2. Maximum stem diameter (4.43 mm), survival percentage (92.9%), number of roots (15.00), tap root length (9.47 cm), Maximum fresh weight of seedling (3.60), maximum dry weight of seedling (1.04 g), Maximum fresh weight of root (1.97g ) and dry weight of roots (0.57g) was recorded in T8: Soil + Vermicompost (1:2). Findings showed that growing media Soil + Vermicompost (1:2) i.e. T8 resulted better germination and growth of papaya seedling. So, it can be use as potting media for raising papaya seedlings.