Effect of growing media on growth parameters of two important aromatic crops of Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

Vegetative propagation of medicinal and aromatic plants with green cutting is mainly used due to low seed germination and long duration of reproduction period. The aim of the investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost, cocopeat and soil on Rosmarinus officinalis and Pelargonium graveolens cuttings. The investigation was conducted in the polyhouse of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants block of College of Forestry, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal Uttrakhand, India during February to May 2019. Eight treatment combinations were made for both species. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Data were collected on Survival percentage, number of sprouts, number of roots, root length, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight at 60 and 90 DAP. The treatment Soil + cocopeat (2:1) resulted significantly higher values of growth parameters in Rosemary and Cocopeat + vermicompost (2:1) recorded maximum values for Geranium cuttings, whereas cuttings grown with soil recorded minimum growth performance for both species.