Use of organic manure and microbial Inoculants for production of qualitative containerised seedlings of Cedrus deodara and Cupressus torulosa

Abstract

The containerised seedling production technology, especially use of polypacks/root trainers is dependent on suitable growing media for raising quality seedlings. In the present investigation, experiments were carried out to find out the suitable potting mixture for raising Cedrus deodara and Cupressus torulosa seedlings. Out of eight media used M6 (Forest Soil: Sand: Pisolinthus tinctorius) supported maximum survival of (75.05 and 78.40) percent, plant height (14.60 and 17.46) cm, collar diameter (1.96 and 1.99) mm, shoot to root ratio (3.82 and 3.92), plant dry weight g/plant of (1.82 and 1.91) in Cedrus deodara and Cupressus torulosa respectively. In root trainers the morphological characters viz. Plant survival (80.00 and 79.15) percent, plant height (13.16 and 17.23) cm, collar diameter (2.25 and 2.47) mm, shoot to root ratio (2.82 and 3.36), plant dry weight g/plant of (1.76 and 1.77) were maximum in Cedrus deodara and Cupressus torulosa respectively in 300 cc root trainer size.