Municipal garbage as a component of potting media for the growth of rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.) seedlings in the nursery

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of potting media containing municipal garbage on the growth of Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.) seedlings in the nursery, a series of studies were carried out at the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur. Treatments T1 (soil), T2 (soil: sand), and T3 (soil: sand: cowdung) recorded 100 per cent initial survival rate. In most of the treatments containing municipal garbage, initial establishment were found to be good. Growth and vigour in terms of shoot growth parameters were found to be most promising when the seedlings were grown in potting media containing 4 weeks decomposed municipal garbage and soil: sand: cowdung. Physiological growth parameters did not show any systematic pattern. No uniform trend could be observed with regard to chlorophyll content also. Seedlings grown in potting media containing soil: sand: cowdung recorded maximum content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the tissues. Media containing 4 weeks decomposed municipal garbage also recorded high content of tissue nitrogen and phosphorus. It was observed that at the end of the study period, percentage of nutrient elements in different potting media slightly increased compared to the initial content.