Influence of planting time and bud numbers on growth of Schefflera arboricola propagated through cutting

Abstract

Influence of timing and bud numbers on growth of Schefflera arboricola propagated through cutting in Peshawar was studied at Ornamental Nursery, Department of Horticulture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar, during May-July 2010. The experiment was performed using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having two factors with split plot arrangement. The cuttings of Schefflera arboricola was planted on seven different dates i.e. 15 th May, 25 th May, 05 th June, 15 th June, 25 th June, 05 th July 15 th July. Four different sizes of cuttings were used in the experiments i.e. cuttings with one bud, cuttings with two, three and four buds. The planting time had significant effect on most of growth parameters. The result of the experiment showed that the Schefflera cuttings planted on 15 th July, 2010 gave maximum survival percentage (71.19%), sprout length (6.93 cm), number of branch plantleaf area (4.80 cm²), sprout thickness (0.44 cm), number of root plantroot length (22.17 cm) and root weight (1.24 gm). Whereas earliest sprouting (37.01 days) was observed in cuttings planted on 15 th July. The different sizes of cuttings had significant response on vegetative propagation of Schefflera through cutting. Cuttings with one bud gave best results for maximum survival percentage (78.49%), sprout length (7.81 cm), number of branches plantleaf area (4.91 cm²), sprout thickness (0.41cm), number of root plantroot length (21.90 cm) and root weight (1.47 gm). Whereas, the earliest sprouting (36.82 days), was observed in cuttings having four buds. The interaction of plantings times and cuttings sizes showed that the Schefflera cuttings with one bud when planted on 15 th July, 2010 gave best results in all parameters except