K. VIDYASAGARAN, R. AJEESH AND VIKAS KUMAR
Abstract
The term garbage used internationally to describe waste materials arising from domestic, trade, commercial, industrial, agricultural and other related activities and from public services. It has created a real threat not only to the living environment but also for the cultivation of crops as well as afforestation. The present investigation was conducted to study the influence of two weeks decayed or stored waste materials as component potting media on the growth and vigour of Tectona grandis (Teak) seedlings. The survival ranged from 95 to 99 per cent among various treatments studied. Irrespective of the treatments, mortality was mainly due to teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera. The mixture of soil, sand and cow dung in the ratio I: 1: 1 (T1- Control) recorded the maximum in nursery and plantation. A greater collar diameter recorded for soil, partially decayed Tea waste and sand mixture (T7) and lowest reported for T6 at the end of study period in nursery as well as plantation level. With regards to height and diameter increment at nursery level in eighth month showed the maximum increases was -0.77 and -10.07 per cent in height and diameter respectively for T2 as compared to the control (T1). It indicated that maximum increment per cent in the plantation was recorded in T4 (10.57) and T7 (1.39) for height and diameter respectively. The combined use of soil with garbage resulte in the production of high quality planting material and the effect of plantation development were very less.