IMPROVEMENT OF SEEDLING QUALITY IN POLYBAGS THROUGH MANIPULATION OF POTTING MEDIA

Abstract

Potting mixtures containing different proportions of river sand were used forraising coconut seedlings' in polybags with and without fertilizer, to evaluate theirgrowth and vigour after seed nuts were allowed to germinate on a pre • nursery bedand then transplanted. The substitution of topsoil in the pplybag mixtures with riversand had no significant effect on the development of coconut seedlings. It was foundthat pure river sand alone could be successfully used, provided seedlings were keptfree from water deficit and in this respect the first seven months from seed nutlaying was found to be critical.Application of fertilizer improved the seedling height and girth but this effect wassignificant only five months after seed nut laying. However, in this study theimprovement in seedling vigour was inadequate to justify the extra input onfertilizer.