Effect of pre-sowing seed treatments and sowing time on nursery performance of Acacia modesta Wall.

Abstract

The present study on the effect of pre-sowing seed treatments and sowing time on germination and growth of Acacia modesta was carried out in the Division of Agroforestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha, during the year 2021 to improve germination and obtain better quality seedling of Acacia modesta . The experiment was laid out in Factorial CRD. The study consisted of nine presowing treatments: soaking in cold water for 48 hours, soaking in boiling water for two minutes, acid scarification with conc. H2SO4 for 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes, cow dung slurry for one month, cow dung slurry for one and half month, nicking, control, and two sowing time (08th March and 24th March). There was no germination two pre-sowing seed treatments i.e . cow dung slurry for one month and, cow dung slurry for one and half month. Also, there was no germination in interactions: acid scarification with conc. H2SO4 for 10 minutes x sowing of 08th March, acid scarification with conc. H2SO4 for 15 minutes x sowing of 08th March, cow dung slurry for one month x sowing of 08th March, cow dung slurry for one and half month x sowing of 08th March, cow dung slurry for one month x sowing of 24th March and cow dung slurry for one and half month x sowing of 24th March). Amongst presowing treatments, (nicking) had highest germination percentage (65.83%) which was statistically superior to the remaining treatments. The treatment nicking x sowing date of 24th March exhibited the highest value for most of the seedling parameters. Based on the study it can be concluded that nicking followed by sowing on 24th March be carried out to obtain higher germination and better quality of seedlings.