Effect of Vermicompost and Habitat soil on Seedling growth of White Cedar (Dysoxylum Malabaricum Bedd. Ex Hiern): An Endangered Timber species of the Western Ghats

Abstract

Dysoxylum malabaricum (White Cedar) is one of the highly priced timbers yielding species endemic to the Western Ghats. It is highly valued for its lustrous, sweet-scented and durable timber and mainly used for construction of temples. Its wood properties are comparable with that of teak. Populations of D. malabaricum are too scanty and less reported. The species has been subjected to severe illegal felling in the natural forest, hence it has caused concerns among conservation biologists. Recently, Karnataka Forest Department has planned to take up large-scale plantation programme of this species. However, there are no reports related to standardization of nursery techniques for this species. Evaluation of seedlings for their growing media is an important step for nursery rising. The present study was under taken to know the effect of vermicompost and habitat soil on early growth of seedlings in D. malabaricum. Result showed that potting mixtures containing red soil as one of the components of potting mixture recorded maximum seedling height, collar diameter and number of leaves per plant when compared to those potting mixture containing habitat soil. Interestingly, there was a negative influence of vermicompost on seedling growth, where the treatment, containing soil, sand and vermicompost in the proportion of 1:1:1 (T2) showed poor growth as compared to potting mixture containing soil, sand and vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1: ½ (T3). This suggests that use of vermicompost may not always beneficial to the plant growth in Dysoxylum malabaricum.