Vol. 10, Issue 9 (2021)

Author(s):
Michi Tani, Hemant Kumar Panigrahi, Amita Sarkar, Gunja Thakur and Reshma Tahelyani

Abstract:
The present investigation “Studies on the effect of different growing media on survivability, root and shoot growth of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus L.) Cuttings” was conducted during the year 2020-2021 at Centre of Excellence on Protected Cultivation and Precision Farming, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Media were used as purely as well as in different ratio compositions of 1:1 and 2:1:1 (v/v). The experiment had 16 treatments and was laid out in Randomized Block Design, which was replicated thrice. Application of Vermicompost + Soil (1:1) yielded the maximum root parameters, such as average number of primary and secondary roots (8.63 and 62.85), root thickness (0.27 mm), root volume (1.98 cc), root fresh and dry weight (2.62 and 0.68g). However, Vermicompost + Sand (1:1) took shortest time (24.21 days) to root initiation. Average length of root was found longest (24.19 cm) in the media combined with Soil + Sand (1:1). Different shoot growth parameters i.e. number of sprouts (5.60), shoot length (36.64 cm), fresh and dry weight of shoot (122.48 and 11.57 g), survival percentage (98.33%) and root to shoot ratio (0.059) was significantly recorded best under the treatment combination of Vermicompost + Soil (1:1) as compared to control. However, application of Soil + FYM + Vermicompost (2:1:1) registered the shortest time to sprout initiation.