EVALUATION OF ALTERNATE POTTING MEDIA MIXTURES FOR RAISING QUALITY PLANTING MATERIAL OF LITCHI IN POLYBAGS

Abstract

Litchi is highly paying fruit crops if it grows scientifically. Therefore the present investigation was taken to increase the survival of air-layers in nursery and to propagate quality planting material of superior clones of litchi with increase vigour and growth inorder to meet the requirement of air-layered plants for its area expansion in the country. The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of alternate potting media mixtures for raising quality planting material of litchi in polybags”. From the foregoing discussion it can be concluded that among different growing media Riverbed soil + Vermi-compost (2:1)+NPK (5g/sapling) or Riverbed soil + Vermi-compost (2:1) +Vermiculite (50g/sapling) was identified as best potting media for mass propagation of litchi in black polyethylene bags under net house for obtaining maximum survival, collar girth, sapling height, number of leaves and number of leaflets at 8 months of planting. Similarly maximum fresh weight, dry weight of shoots, higher root colonization of secondary and tertiary roots, fresh plant biomass, dry plant biomass and fresh root shoot ratio were recorded in River bed soil + Vermi-compost (2:1)+ NPK (5g/sapling) whereas, dry root shoot ratio was highest in River bed soil + Vermi-compost (2:1). From above studies, potting media containing Riverbed soil + Vermi-compost (2:1)+NPK (5g/sapling) or Riverbed soil + Vermi-compost (2:1)+Vermiculite (50g/sapling) was found most suitable alternate potting media mixtures under net house.