TITLE:
Studies on Refinement of Container Size and Potting Mixture for Production of Quality Seedlings in Spruce (Picea Smithiana Wall. Boiss)
AUTHORS:
J. A. Mugloo, P. A. Khan, A. H. Mughal, K. N. Qasir, S. N. Zaffar, Gowher Parrey
KEYWORDS:
Potting Mixture, Picea smithiana, Root Trainer, Lake Weed, Ingredient, Biomass
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.5 No.7,
October
8,
2015
ABSTRACT: Spruce (Picea
Smithiana) is an evergreen tree and distributed through the temperate
Himalaya at the elevation of 2000 - 3500 m. Natural regeneration of spruce (Picea smithiana) is generally slow and
almost negligible due to a number of factors e.g. presence of un decomposed raw
humus on forest floor low germinative capacity of seed and infrequent good seed
years. In order to supplement natural regeneration through artificial means,
nursery raising assumes significance. The
present study aimed at optimizing the root trainer container size and the
potting mixture ingredients and their proportion for the production of quality
nursery stock of Picea smithiana. Nine combinations of potting mixture
ingredients (Forest Soil, Garden Soil, Sand, FYM and Lake weed) were tested in
various ratios for the optimization of potty mixture in different root trainer
sizes. Simultaneously, three different volumes (150cc, 250cc and 300cc) of root trainers were tested for suitability of container
size. Chemical and physical analysis of potting mixture ingredients was carried
out for better understanding of nutrient status. The best seedling growth at
seven month age in terms of height (5.53 cm), Collar diameter (1.57 mm), fresh
shoot weight (0.34 g), dry shoot weight (0.10 g), fresh root weight (0.27 g) ,
dry root weight (0.03 g), root shoot ratio(2:52), and total fresh biomass (0.61
g) were observed when seedlings were raised in root trainer container size (300cc)
filled with potting mixture of (M8) Soil:Sand:FYM (1:1:2) and the
lowest growth parameters were observed in root trainer container size (150cc)
filled with forest soil only. Plantable quality seedlings can be
recovered within a period of 7 months using potting mixture of Soil, Sand and
FYM (1:1:2) and Soil, Sand and Lake weed (1:1:2) ratios in root trainer container
size 300cc.