Effect of different growing media and growing conditions on seed germination of guava and nutrients content of guava seedlings

Abstract

The study was carried out to standardize the growing media for better germination of guava seeds (Psidium guajava L.) in cv. L-49 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2021-2022. The experiment had 10 treatments of various combinations of growing media viz. Garden soil, Garden soil + FYM (1:1), Garden soil + Vermicompost (1:1), Garden soil + Cocopeat (1:1), Garden soil + Vermiculite (1:1), Garden soil + Sawdust (1:1), Garden soil + FYM + Vermicompost (2:1:1), Garden soil + FYM + Cocopeat (2:1:1), Garden soil + FYM + Vermiculite (2:1:1), Garden soil + FYM + Sawdust (2:1:1) under two environmental conditions (open field and polyhouse). Among different treatment combinations, treatment of garden soil + FYM + vermicompost (2:1:1) had taken minimum number of days for full germination (23.95 & 21.67) and 50% germination (27.93 & 24.54) and the highest germination percentage (43.25 & 46.27) in polyhouse and field condition, respectively and had the highest N, P and K content in guava seedling leaves under both growing conditions. This treatment was significantly at par with the Garden soil + FYM + Cocopeat (2:1:1) in term of all the parameters studies. Among the two growing conditions, the number of days taken for full and 50% germination, N, P and K content in guava seedling leaves and in growing media were better, in poly house compared to open field conditions. There was strong correlation between seed germination percentage of guava and N, P and K content in guava seedling leaves.