Growing Zero Cost Seedlings of Peepal (<i>Ficus religiosa</i> L.) in Hi-Tech Nursery

Abstract

Growing the seedlings of Ficus religiosa L. is very difficult by conventional nursery technique because of poor survival of seedlings up to transplantation stage. Poor germination per cent, less seed viability, very tender nature in early stage and damage due to watering, handling and transplantation are the main reasons responsible for this low survival. The present paper describes outcome of a field experiment by which more than 10,000 seedlings were successfully raised without any additional cost up to transplantation stage. The seedlings were successfully transferred and established in root trainers and polythene tubes with more than 90% survival. These seedlings were planted and established in field with 100% survival. Besides monetary value, the saving was also made in terms of resources like water, land and time by their effective utilization. The present field experiment may not be a standard method and getting desired number of seedlings may not be ensured. However, a fairly large number of seedlings can be obtained by avoiding the damage and without additional cost.