Response of Albizia lebbeck to Moisture Stress on Seed Germination and Moisture Gradient on Seedling Growth

Abstract

The polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) was used under laboratory conditions. The studied parameters viz., germination percentage, mean daily germination, peak value, germination value and hypocotyls length was significantly reduced with increase in moisture stress. The control treatment T1 had highest Germination percentage, mean daily germination, peak value, and germination value and hypocotyls length. There were decreases in the values of all the studied germination parameters with increase in moisture stress created by use of different concentration of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000). The different irrigation interval (days) followed for seedling production in nursery exhibited that different moisture gradients in nursery soil effected significantly seedling growth parameters viz., seedling height, collar diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, number, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll b content, nutrient uptake in leafs (N,P,K) and root: shoot ratio were significant. There was decrease in all the studied growth parameters (except root shoot ratio) recorded with increase in moisture stress caused by irrigation interval studied. Out of the three container size of hyco-trays studied, the container size T3 (300 cc) had significantly the highest seedling height, collar diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, total chlorophyll, nitrogen content in leaf, phosphorus content in leaf, potassium content in leaf and root; shoot ratio as compared to container size T1 (93 cc) and T2 (150 cc).There were increase in all the studied growth parameters (except root shoot ratio) studied with increase in size of root containers, which could be attributed to more growing media and nutrients, and higher water holding capacity in large sized containers.