Germination and Growth of Citrus: Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) in Different Organic Substrates

Abstract

This study was carried out to explore the effect of different organic substrates on germination and growth of trifoliate (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.). The experiment was conducted at the Agriculture Research and Development Sub-center (ARDSC), Mithun, Tsirang from July 2014 to March 2015. This experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design. Each treatment was replicated four times and there were seven treatments. Six different combinations of organic substrates were used. Germination of the seed was done in plug trays of 60 cm x 45 cm with 60 plug holes and effect on germination was assessed until 30 days after sowing (DAS). After transplanting the seedlings in poly pots (12 cm x 6 cm), assessment on growth parameters was done until 210 days after transplanting (DAT). T5: biogas slurry + topsoil + sand + leaf mold + sawdust + rice husk (2: 1: 1: 1: 1: 1) had water holding capacity of 62.7%, air-filled porosity of 8.1%, OM of 6.3%, maximum seed emergence rate of 37.4%, maximum germination index (7.6) and maximum germination percentage of 91.3%. Besides, stem height of 15 cm, stem girth of 3.6 mm, taproot length of 35.6 cm, the number of secondary roots of 61, secondary root spread of 21.4 cm and seedling mortality rate of zero was significantly (p ˂ .01) different from other treatments.