Effect of different treatments on the germination parameters and seedling quality index of Tectona grandis (Teak) under nursery condition

Abstract

The study was conducted over a period of 5 months from March to July, 2017, to study the effect of varied pre-sowing treatments on seed germination of Tectona grandis (Teak) in the nursery area of College of Forestry, SHUATS, Allahabad. Seeds were subjected to 14 treatments including control i.e. T0 (Control), T₁ (Soaked in normal water for 3 days), T₂ (Sunlight for 3 days), T₃ (Alternate wet 12hrs and drying 12hrs for 10 days), T₄ (Soaked in cow urine for 6 days), T₅ (Soaked in Cow dung slurry for 7 days), T₆ (Hammer treatment), T₇ (Sand paper), T₈ (Boiling 2 min), T₉ (Boiling 5 min), T₁₀ (Conc. H₂SO₄ 15 min), T₁₁ (Conc. H₂SO₄ 20 min), T₁₂ (HNO₃ 15 min), and T₁₃ (HNO₃ 20 min). Findings of the data revealed that pre-treatment of seed before sowing enhanced seed germination and seedling growth. The highest germination percentage (43.3%) was observed in T₃ (Alternate wet and drying) followed by T₅ (Cow dung slurry 40%) and T₁₁ (H₂SO₄ 20 min 33.3%). The lowest germination (13.3%) was recorded in T₂, T₄ and T₁₂ (sunlight, cow urine and HNO₃ 15 min) respectively. Seedling height, root length, collar diameter and number of leaves have resulted different performance trend and found as T₃, T₅, T₆, T₁₀ and T₁₁ respectively and as for fresh and dry shoot weight, fresh and dry root weight trend of higher value was observed in T₃ and T₅ respectively and the lowest in T₀. Observation for seedling quality parameter, it show difference in higher trend of value i.e. T₈ and T₉ for root shoot ratio-I, T₈ and T₁₂ for root shoot ratio-II while for Sturdiness quotient, highest value was observed in T₄ (cow urine).Therefore, the effect of pre-sowing treatment T₃ (alternate wet and drying) and T₅ (cow dung slurry) was more effective in germination and production of quality seedling of Tectona grandis (Teak) in the nursery.