Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STANDARDIZATION OF PROPAGATION METHODS AND TIMING IN WALNUT (JUGLANS REGIA) UNDER CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF DISTRICT REASI, JAMMU PROVINCE, J & K, INDIA

Suja N Qureshi, Kounser Javeed, Muzffer A. Mir, A. Whaheed Wani and Uzma Bashir

Abstract

On farm trails were conducted on propagation methods under polyhouse and open field conditions during the year 2021 and 2022 at KVK Reasi SKUAST- Jammu. Two methods viz wedge and tongue grafting at different levels of timings viz, 1st, 2nd week of February in 2X2 factorial CRBD under polyhouse and repeated at 3rd week of Feb. and 1st week of march in 2x 2 factorial RCBD under open field conditions with three replications to standardize method and feasible timing for walnut propagation in District Reasi (J&K). Wedge grafting at 2nd week of February at polyhouse conditions revealed maximum scion take (64.24%) and scion sprouting (54.77) respectively, whereas tongue grafting recorded at par (59.63) scion take and (52.36%) scion sprouting in similar environment comparatively higher than field conditions. Whereas. interaction between methods x timings revealed wedge grafting in 2nd week of February showed maximum scion take (64.99%) and scion sprouting (57.20%) significantly higher than 1st week of February (63.49%) scion take and (52.33%) scion sprouting under Polyhouse conditions. Graft success under open field conditions at interaction of wedge method x 3rd week of February showed significantly higher scion take (60.87) and scion sprouting (50.12) higher whereas tongue grafting at 1st week of march recorded minimum scion take (53.05%) and scion sprouting (44.25%). Vegetative growth viz. stem diameter (mm), No. of leaves, leafletsize (cm2), plant height (cm), were significantly influenced in walnut grafts. The results indicate that walnut gafting could be economically significant vegetative propagation method in Reasi conditions. Wedge Grafting performed in 2nd week of February under polyhouse was observed most suitable procedure to propagate walnuts at mass scale under climatic conditions of District