STUDIES ON GERMINATION BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSIOLOGICA RESPONSE OF TERMINALIA ARJUNA (ROXD.) TOWARDS FLY-ASH DURING ITS INITIAL STAGERamesh, Gunjan Patil and Mexudhan JaiswalAbstract An experiment was conducted at the nursery of Guru Ghasidas Vishawavidyalaya, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh). Studied on germination behavior, physiological response and initial seedling growth performance of Terminalia arjuna (Roxd.) on growing media of different concentration of fly ash and soil during March to August 2022. Growing media was prepared by admixing fly ash to nursery soil (S) at five concentrations (T0, control), T1 20% (fly ash+soil), T2, 40% (fly ash +soil), T3, 60% (fly ash+soil) T4, 80% (fly ash +soil), T5, 100% (fly ash), The experimental design was CRD with six treatments and three replications. Freshly collected seeds were washed with cold water and sown at 2.0-3.0 cm depth in germination trays filled with media of different treatments. Significant (P<0.05) variation in germination period, rate, with respect to flyash concentration in media was observed (n=100). Maximum rate (60%) was found in media having 20% FA after 30 days of sowing. Significant (P<0.05) in seedling survival rate, plant height, diameter growth, leaf number, nodules per plant and seedling quality index were observed. The survival rate (91.11%), plant height (40.33 cm), collar diameter (4.23 mm), root length (40.11cm) and seedling quality index (7.92) were at maximum in growing media having 20% fly ash (T1). It is concluded form the present investigation that fly ash can be admixed 20% (w/w) in forest nurseries for improving germination and promoting seedling growth and quality improvement of Terminalia arjuna (Roxd). |