Abstract
This study was carried out to explore the effect of growing media on seed germination and seedling growth of papaya (Carrica papaya). The research was conducted at the model nursery of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sirohi during two successive seasons from July to August 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. This research was arranged in a complete randomized design with nine treatment combinations and three replications. The treatments were combination between types of media with level of cocopeat. Each treatment has 100 poly bags. The results showed that the medium of vermicompost + sand + pond soil (1:1:1) with 2 cm cocopeat in top of the poly bags (T9) gave maximum speed of emergence (277.6 and 709.09), highest germination percent (95.27 and 90.15%), highest seed vigour (91.97 and 86.69), maximum germination index (7.15 and 7.22), germination value (17.33 and 33.83) and least time required for imbibition (9.45 and 9.30 days) and minimum germination period (3.70 and 2.75 days), respectively in both years of experimentation. This medium was also found to be the best medium for the growth of papaya seedlings as it gave the highest parameters in term of seedling height (23.43 and 22.67 cm), leaf area (349.33 and 329.20 cm2), number of leaves (10.02 and 9.67), stem girth (3.16 and 3.48 mm), number of roots (17.20 and 16.17), root length (10.20 and 9.67 cm), production of total biomass (5.02 and 4.77 g/plant) and least root/shoot ratio (0.22 and 0.20). This treatment also significantly reduces the seedling mortality and produce maximum healthy seedlings (92.23 and 93.15%) in minimum days (35.33 and 35.15) with highest net profit (Rs. 3493.30/1000 seedling and Rs. 3448.00/ 1000 seedling) and B:C ratio (1.85 and 1.84) of seedlings, in both years (2008-09 and 2009-10), respectively. Key words: Seedling, plant growth, cocopeat, pond soil, vermicompost, B:C ratio.
Highlights
Use of suitable growing media or substrates is essential for production of quality horticultural crops
The results showed that growing media and cocopeat had beneficial effect on seed germination and growth of papaya seedling
(277.6 and 709.0), highest germination percent (95.27 and 90.15%), highest seed vigour (91.97 and 86.69), maximum germination index (7.15 and 7.22), germination value (17.33 and 33.83) and least time required for imbibition (9.45 and 9.30 days) and minimum germination period (3.70 and 2.75 days) were obtained in vermicompost + sand + pond soil (1:1:1) with 2 cm filling with cocopeat of seedling poly bags (T9) in both years of experimentation, respectively
Summary
Use of suitable growing media or substrates is essential for production of quality horticultural crops. It directly affects the development and later maintenance of the extensive functional rooting system. Papaya is an important fruit crop which is propagated by seeds only. The seed cost of this variety is very high (Rs. 2.0 lakh kg-1) so, increasing germination percent and producing more healthy seedling is a challenge for papaya growers. Red lady seeds faces certain problems in germination and has high seedling mortality due to damping off disease in nursery stage. Initial mortality and incomplete germination is one of the causes of reduced survival percent of papaya plants. Media composition used influences the quality of seedling (Wilson et al, 2001)
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