Standardization of Potting Media for Citrus Nursery Production in Containers

Abstract

Six-week-old rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri L.) seedlings uniform in size were transplanted from nursery to pots filled with peat, spent compost of mushroom and leaf manure used at different proportions with soil, sand and farm yard manure and grown in green house environment. Initial physical and chemical analysis of media indicated that electric conductivity (EC), total porosity, bulk density, moisture percentage, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are more suitable for citrus plant growth and development than other media of different compositions. Peat + sand (1:1) had pH 6.7 which is optimum for growth of citrus nursery. After every four weeks plant length, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf area were measured. Leaf analysis for N, P, K and mortality percentage was measured at the end of the experiment. Peat + sand (1:1) produced highest percentage of transplant success, plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaves as compared to all other treatments tested. At initial stage peat + sand (1:1) gave the highest results in relation to leaf area, but at the end of experiment it was observed that treatment with silt + spent compost (button) + spent compost (oyster) (1:1:1), produced maximum leaf area with lush green leaves however, mortality rate was very high. This study suggests that peat + sand (1:1) may serve as a standard medium for the container grown citrus nursery.