DETERMINATION OF SUITABLE PRE-SOWING SEEDTREATMENTS AND FERTILIZER DOSES FOR MASS PRODUCTIONOF QUALITY NURSERY STOCK OF OROXYLUM INDICUMAnkurdeep Preety and Sandeep SharmaAbstract Oroxylum indicum, commonly known as âShyonakâ, Shivnakâ or âIndian trumpet flowerâ, is an importantmedicinal tree found in India and South East Asia. Various parts of this tree possess immense medicinalproperties, which are utilized to cure various diseases. Being highly valuable source of medicinalformulations, this tree is overexploited and is listed as vulnerable and endangered in saveral parts of India.So, there is an urgent need for conservation of this species through mass multiplication. With the objectiveto produce good quality nursery stock of Oroxylum indicum, the present study was conducted to test theeffect of different pre-sowing seeds treatments on seed germination along with the effect of different fertilizerdoses for production of good quality seedlings in the nursery. The study revealed that treatment of soakingseeds in water for twelve hours resulted in highest germination per cent (64.44%) and also exhibited bettergrowth parameters of the seedlings than that in the control. Effect of different fertilizers viz. Neem coatedurea, Potassium Nitrate, Calcium nitrate and Ammonium Sulphate was studied on the seedlings, wherethe highest growth (21.42% increase in height) was recorded in application of Neem coated urea at a doseof 3.5 g/l. |