Effect of rooting media and number of nodes on growth and leaf yield of chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius McVaugh) at Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Chaya known as spinach tree, rich in vitamins and minerals, can grow under drought, low soil fertility conditions and tolerant to insect pest and could be used to tackle malnutrition problem in eastern Ethiopia. Thus, the first step is to establish the propagation and field establishment method. This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of rooting media, and the number of nodes and on rooting, seedling establishment and early growth of chaya at Dire Dawa in 2018 cropping season. The experiment was conducted to evaluate three rooting media (top soil, 3:2 top soil: FYM: 3:1 top soil: FYM) and cuttings with 1, 2 and 3 nodes in factorial combination in completely randomized design with three replications. Rooting media (RM) significantly influenced all growth parameters of seedlings and number of node (NoN) on cuttings significantly influenced most of the traits. Rooting media and number of nodes interacted to influence number of roots, fresh and dry weight of re-growth shoot. The highest number of roots (10.53) was registered from chaya stem cuttings with three nodes grown on rooting media filled with 3:2 top soils: FYM. Cuttings grown on 3:2 top soils: FYM media had significantly tallest re-growth stem height and highest number of leaves followed by cuttings grown on 3:1 top soil: FYM media.