Effect of different organic manures on seed germination and seedling growth of Sapindus mukorossi (Gaertn.), a multipurpose tree of

Himalaya

R. S. Bali *, Saresh. N. V*, N. P. Todaria#, Aalok. Y.G and Usha** College of Forestry and Hill Agriculture, UUHF, Bharsar, Ranichauri

Campus Tehri Garhwal-249199 # Department of Forestry, H.N.B. Garhwal, Srinagar Garhwal Uttarakhand-246147

Introduction

Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn (Vern Rita, Family-Sapindaceae) is native to

China and Japan and much cultivated in the North India in the moister tracts

along the foot of Himalaya from Ravi eastwards up to 1500m elevation. The

tree is also found wild in the valleys of north – eastern Himalaya, Assam and

west Bengal. It is also planted in avenues. In Nagaland, it is cultivated

extensively for supplying raw material for small-scale industries. The timber

is used locally for agricultural implements and making charcoal. It is mainly

cultivated as ornamental tree and also regarded as a cure for epilepsy.

Rounded seeds are forced into the mouth of one suffering from epileptic

paraoxysm. They are also given in excessive salivation and chlorosis. Seeds

also act as a fish poison; powdered seeds are considered insecticidal. Fruit

contains saponins, which can be extracted by boiling the powdered fruits.

Soap nuts are used as detergent; also utilized for polishing jewellary, for

washing and bleaching cardamons. Saponin finds application as an emulsifier

in insecticides. Kernels contain a fixed oil, which can be used for soap

manufacture, and the exhausted cake as a filler and fertilizer (CSIR, 1986).

This species has also been grown by inhabitants in or around agricultural

fields for fuel, timber and medicinal requirements. Due to multifarious nature

of the species, it has been over exploited throughout Garhwal hills by rural

folk. Moreover, natural regeneration through seeds is also poor due to hard

seed coat and damage by insects, cattle and rodents (Luna, 1996). Further

seeds of S. mukorossi are harvested by villagers for sale in market, therefore,

natural regeneration is extremely poor. An attempt have been made to

evaluate germination behaviour, survival percent and seedling growth of this

species as affected by raising them in different type of manures in nursery.

OBJECTS OF THE STUDY

The present study on nursery techniques for seedling development of Sapindus mukorosii species of Garhwal Himalaya covers the following aspects:

Effect of different types of manures on seed germination.

Effect of different types of manures on the survival and growth of seedlings at nursery stage.

Effect of different types of manures on the survival and field growth of seedlings in field.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seed were collected from the natural habitat range of distribution (1150 -

1800 m asl) in Garhwal Himalaya. Fresh and mature (ripened) fruits from

earlier selected trees of S. mukorossi were harvested in the month of January.

Soon after the collection, seeds were manually depulped. Thereafter seeds

were sun dried for the period of one week and packed in the jute bags for

experimentation and further use. For the confirmation of the viability of

seeds, floating method was used.

Seeds were mechanically cracked / filed at the white end till the kernal just

became visible. The cracked / filed seeds were soaked in cold water for the

period of 24 hrs before sown in nursery beds of 1m ×1m size in

experimental garden of Forestry Department, Chauras (situated in between

300 13| N latitude and 780 48| E Longitude at an elevation of 530 m asl). The

seeds sown under different treatments were mulched with dry grass and

manual irrigation was applied daily until the completion of germination and

thereafter, weekly till the commencement of rainy season. Weeding and

earthlings were done manually.

Effect of growing medium on seed germination and seedling growth

Manures

The types of manures viz: bio organic soil enricher (CELRICH), compost,

poultry and goat pellets were used. Pretreated seeds were sown in the above-

mentioned manures in polythene bags. The seeds were sown in the polythene

bags containing 1:2:1 ratio of sand, garden soil and manure. In this process

each group of 50 polythene bags contained bio- organic, compost, poultry

and goat pellets respectively. 50 seeds were used for one type of manure with

single seed in a polythene bag. The group of 50 polythene bags for one type

of manure was divided into 5 rows, each row having 10 polythene bags

containing single seed in them. In five rows of single type of manure, each

row acted as pseudo replicate (each row with 10 seeds).

Seed germination % in nursery as well as in growing media were recorded

when the plumule had emerged above the soil upto 90 days from the date of

sowing. Mean germination time was calculated following the formula given

by Ellis and Roberts (1981)

MGT=ΣDn / Σn

Where, n = Number of seeds germinated on nth day D (D representing the

number of days since the sowing of seeds).

Germination Index was calculated following the formula given by Kendrick

and Frankland (1969).

Total % germination

GI = --------------------------------------------------

Time (hours) taken for 50% germination

Surviving plants in each type of treatment were counted at the time of

recording of seedling traits (survival percent, height, collar diameter, etc.) i.e.

three months after sowing in the nursery as well as in growing media.

Data were analysed using one way ANOVA analysis where p-value less than

0.01 and 0.05 were statistically defined as significant. Correlation coefficient

(Spearman’s correlation) test “r” of germination, shoot and diameter growth

was worked out using non-linear regression analysis where p-value less than

0.05 and 0.01 were statistically defined as significant.

Survival and growth performance under field condition

Seedlings developed in nursery by different growing media were transplanted

in the field in randomized block design in the experimental fields. 15 healthy

seedlings from each treatment with three replicates were used for plantation.

To assess the periodic growth, 10 seedlings were randomly tagged and data

on morphological traits viz. plant height, collar diameter and survival percent

was recorded upto one year under field condition.

RESULTS100 % seed viability was observed for this species.

Effects of manures on seed germination and seedlings growth

Responses of application of different types of manure on seed germination of

S. mukorossi showed that the average percent seed germination varied

significantly (p = 0.05) for different treatments. Application of compost

resulted into maximum (100.00%) average germination percent that was

closely followed by goat pellets (90.00%) and the lowest value was observed

in poultry (78.00%) followed by organic (84.00%). Average mean

germination time also differed significantly (p = 0.05) in different manure

treatments. The highest (22.52 days) average mean germination time was

recorded in compost and lowest value was recorded in goat pellets (16.34

days). Average germination index too varied significantly (p = 0.01) among

different manure types. Average highest GI (0.23) was recorded in goat

pellets and the lowest one (0.14) was observed in poultry (Table 1). In

Spearman’s correlation test significant correlations were computed between

germination percent and MGT& GI.

Survival percent differed significantly (p = 0.001) after three, six (p = 0.01)

and nine (p = 0.01) months of nursery growth whereas after one year survival

percent remained unchanged. Maximum (98 %) survival was recorded in

compost and the lowest (72.40 %) was observed in poultry. On an average

95.54, 93.88, 88.00 and 88.00 % survival was recorded irrespective of types

of manures after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of growth. Significant (p = 0.01)

differences were recorded in shoot length after three, six (p = 0.01), and

twelve (p = 0.01) months of nursery growth. After one year growth,

maximum (58.54 cm) shoot length was observed in goat pellets and the

lowest (45.08 cm) was found in compost. On an average 16.77, 28.77, 32.95

and 52.07 cm shoot length was recorded after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months

respectively irrespective of types of manures. Significant (p = 0.001)

differences were recorded in the collar diameter after three, six (p = 0.01),

nine (p = 0.01) and twelve (p = 0.01) months of nursery growth. Maximum

(9.22 mm) collar diameter was observed in poultry and the lowest value

(7.07 mm) was recorded in organic manure. On an average 2.86, 4.72, 6.04

and 7.93 mm collar diameter was observed after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months

respectively irrespective of manure types (Table 2). Spearman’s correlation

test showed negative significant (p = 0.001) differences except in case of

shoot length verses collar diameter which showed positive correlation.

Survival and seedling growth performance under field conditions

Survival and seedling growth performance under field conditions showed

seedling mortality in all types of seedlings during first six months. The

survival percent in the field showed significant (p = 0.01) variation in the

seedlings raised through different manures. However, on an average

maximum 90.83 % survival was found in manures as compared to other

media. Shoot growth was steady during initial six month, however, it took

momentum after the completion of six month. Shoot growth showed

significant variations (p = 0.001) in manures after six and one year whereas,

minimum shoot length (88.2cm) after 12 months was found in bed raised

seedlings from nursery whereas maximum (132.77) cm shoot length was

recorded in container raised seedlings as compared to other media. There

were significant (p = 0.001) differences in the collar diameter among

seedlings after six and twelve months of field growth. Similar to shoot

growth, collar diameter growth was slow in seedlings from nursery beds as

compared to others. Maximum (21.62 mm) collar diameter was recorded in

container raised seedlings after one year field growth as compared to other

media (Table 3). No significant variations were recorded in manure types so

far as the Spearman’s correlation test is concerned but in bed types there

were positive significant (p = 0.05) variations recorded except for survival %

verses collar diameter and in soil and container types no significant

variations were computed except for shoot verses collar diameter which

showed positively significant (p = 0.001) correlation.

Table 1. Germination response of S. mukorossi in different types of manure.

Type of manureSapindus mukorossi

Germination percent Mean germination time

Germination index

Compost100.00± 0.000

22.52± 1.413

0.20± 0.032

Goat pellets90.00

± 7.07116.34

± 2.700.23

± 0.022 Bio-organic soil

enricher (CELRICH)

84.00± 16.733

16.36± 3.188

0.20± 0.042

Poultry 78.00± 13.038

18.20± 4.116

0.14± 0.016

Mean 88.00 18.36 0.19F-ratio 3.520* 4.654* 6.983**

* Significant at P = 0.05, ** Significant at P= 0.01± Indicates standard deviation of mean.

Table.2 Nursery survival and growth performance of Sapindus mukorossi in relation to different types of manures

Type of raising medium

After 3 months After 6 months After 9 months After 12 monthsSurvival percent

ShootLength(cm)

Collar diameter(mm)

Survival percent

ShootLength(cm)

Collar diameter(mm)

Survival percent

ShootLength(cm)

Collar diameter(mm)

Survival percent

ShootLength(cm)

Collar diameter(mm)

Compost 100 ±0.00

13.44 ±0.492

2.37 ±0.101

100 ±0.00

22.10 ±0.401

4.17 ±0.155

98.00 ±2.00

27.32 ±0.693

5.39 ±0.165

98.00 ±2.00

45.08 ±1.935

7.55 ±0.516

Goat pellets 100 ±0.00

17.49 ±0.804

3.46 ±0.076

93.38 ±2.70

32.30 ±1.925

5.01 ±0.172

89.00 ±3.49

39.40 ±2.069

6.43 ±0.175

89.00 ±3.49

58.54 ±1.788

7.88 ±0.265

Bio-organic soil enricher (CELRIH)

100 ±0.00

17.08 ±0.952

2.77 ±0.105

100 ±0.00

28.60 ±0.723

4.83 ±0.171

92.60 ±3.28

34.02 ±1.023

6.09 ±0.133

92.60 ±3.28

47.10 ±2.497

7.07 ±0.231

Poultry 82.14 ±2.55

19.07 ±0.755

2.84 ±0.123

82.14 ±2.55

32.06 ±1.699

4.88 ±0.151

72.40 ±3.63

31.06 ±6.968

6.25 ±0.184

72.40 ±3.63

57.57 ±1.076

9.22 ±0.220

Mean 95.54 16.77 2.86 93.88 28.77 4.72 88.00 32.95 6.04 88.00 52.07 7.93F- ratio 49.17**

*9.56** 19.36*

**20.58**

12.43**

5.32** 12.15**

1.91

Ns7.52** 12.15*

*13.55**

7.72**

*** Significant at p = 0.001, ** Significant at p = 0.01,

Ns = non significant ± Indicates standard error of mean

Table 3. Survival and growth performance under field conditions of Sapindus mukorossi seedlings raised in different types of manures.

***

Significant at p = 0.001, ** Significant at p = 0.01 ± Indicates standard error of mean

Type of raising medium Just after planting After 6 months After 12 months

Survival percent

ShootLength(cm)

Collar diameter(mm)

Survival percent

ShootLength(cm)

Collar diameter(mm)

Survival percent

ShootLength(cm)

Collar diameter(mm)

Compost 100 ±0.00

49.68 ±2.014

7.437 ±0.036

100 ±0.00

71.23 ± 2.502

10.99 ±0.119

100 ±0.00

118.66 ±3.134

17.29 ±0.328

Goat pellets 100 ±0.00

76.69 ±1.56

9.27 ±0.115

90.00 ±5.77

100.32 ±1.351

14.16 ±0.085

86.67 ±3.33

132.82 ±1.460

21.35 ±0.362

Bio-organic soil enricher (CELRICH

100 ±0.00

61.42 ±2.078

8.12 ±0.255

100 ±0.00

91.65 ±2.722

12.96 ±0.243

100 ±0.00

140.25 ±4.262

18.51 ±0.939

Poultry 100 ±0.00

67.27 ±2.027

10.18 ±0.279

76.67 ±3.33

88.69 ±1.928

12.42 ±0.232

76.67 ±3.33

116.75 ± 2.029

16.72 ±0.205

Mean 100.00 63.77 8.75 91.67 87.97 12.63 90.83 127.12 18.47F- ratio - 34.26** 37.65*** 11.00** 31.01*** 51.23*** 23.17*** 14.96*** 14.61***

Summary

The study revealed that:-

Nursery germination

Germination responses in terms of application of different types of

manures showed that the maximum average seed germination

percent varied to great extent irrespective of manure types. The

maximum germination percent was recorded in compost whereas

minimum mean germination time was recorded in goat pellets and

poultry manure. It shows that these two manures proved convenient

for fast germination.

Survival and seedling attributes in nursery:

Among the manure types, compost manure proved best to attain

maximum survival in S. mukorossi. Growth performance of S.

mukorossi seedlings were measured till one year in the nursery. The

maximum shoot length in S. mukorossi was recorded in goat pellets

after one year nursery growth.

Survival and seedling attributes in field:

The maximum survival percent after one year field growth was

recorded both in compost and bio-organic manure raised seedlings of

S. mukorossi. The variation of manure types showed maximum shoot

length in bio-organic manure raised seedlings for S. mukorossi,s.

Collar diameter showed significant variations among manure types,

maximum collar diameter was found in goat pellets manure raised

seedlings for S. mukorossi after one year field growth. Effect of type

of manure on germination, growth and survival of S. mukorossi

showed that raising medium effect differently with respect to

germination, survival and growth attributes.