Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Muzafar Mir, Parshant Bakshi, Kiran Kour, Rakesh Kumar, Ajay Gupta, BA Pandith, Suja Nabi, Sudhir S Jamwal, MA Guroo and Ramandeep Kour

Abstract:
This study was carried out to explore the effect of growing media on seed germination and seedling growth of walnut (Juglans regia L.). The research was conducted at research block of fruit plant nursery, Poonch, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, J&K, India during the year 2022-23. The treatment combination of different growing media were T₁: sandy soil 100%; T₂: Sandy soil with 1 cm cocopeat; T₃: Sandy soil with 2 cm cocopeat; T₄: FYM+ sandy soil (1:1) without cocopeat; T₅: FYM+ sandy soil (1:1) with 1 cm cocopeat; T₆: FYM+ sandy soil (1:1) with 2 cm cocopeat; T₇: Vermicompost + sandy soil (1:1) without cocopeat; T₈: Vermicompost + sandy soil (1:1) with 1 cm cocopeat and T₉: Vermicompost + sandy soil (1:1) with 2 cm cocopeat. The results showed that the medium of vermicompost +sandy soil (1:1) with 2 cm cocopeat in top of the poly bags recorded minimum days taken for germination (25.15) and maximum germination percentage (81.40). The medium was also found to be the best medium for the growth of walnut seedlings as it gave the highest parameters in terms of seedling height (13.12 cm, 60 DAS), (27.63 cm, 90 DAS), (40.20 cm, 120 DAS), (51.55 cm, 150 DAS) and (62.25 cm, 180 DAS); shoot diameter (8.82 mm), number of leaves (7.22), leaf area (321.12 cm²), survival percentage (93.16), mortality rate(6.84), fresh shoot weight (10.15 g), dry shoot weight (3.71 g), length of tap root (20.13 cm), fresh weight of root (15.22 g) and dry weight of root (6.65 g).