Comparative analysis of survival and rooting in hardwood cuttings of varying lengths of Bougainvillea glabra

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of varying length of hardwood cuttings of Bougainvillea on its survival and various rooting parameters in the experimental site of Hi-tech Unit, College of Horticulture, Dapoli under the aegis of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli during December 2024 to April 2025. This study aimed to standardize the length of hardwood cutting of Bougainvillea suitable for the Konkan environmental conditions, addressing the challenges faced by nurserymen and landscapers in establishing Bougainvillea cuttings, as quality planting material is prerequisite for achieving success. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design comprising two replications and sixteen treatment combinations consisting of eight different bougainvillea varieties and two length of hardwood cuttings viz., 10 cm (L1) and 15 cm (L2). Among the two different levels of length of hardwood cuttings under study, parameters like minimum days required for initiation of sprouting (13.85 days), maximum sprouting percentage (76.88%) and survival percentage were observed in hardwood cuttings of length 15 cm. Besides, maximum number of roots per cutting (27.08 roots), length of longest root (11.40 cm), fresh and dry weight of roots (11.70 g and 2.19 g, respectively) and shoot: root (1.29) were also recorded in 15 cm long hardwood cuttings. Therefore, the study recommends the use of hardwood cuttings of length 15 cm as the most effective option for enhancing the survival and rooting of Bougainvillea, making it a viable choice for commercial cultivation in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.