Vol. 11, Issue 1 (2022)

Author(s):
Suman Meena, OP Garhwal, Atma ram Meena, Komal Bhadala and Pratishtha Diwaker

Abstract:
The papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the 22 accepted species in the genus carica of the family caricaceae. It is also grown extensively as a filler plant in orchards. The applications of different growth media and organic as well as inorganic fertilizers at nursery stage are the key factors to enhance the production. Growth media and plant growth regulators both are an integral part of most of the horticultural production system Soil, vermicompost, cocopeat, vermiculite etc. as different growing media and NAA (Auxin) and Gibberellic acid of different concentrations are included as growth regulators were used. Use of growth media and plant growth regulators also brought out perceptible variation in growth parameters like seedling height (30 and 45 DAS), number of leaves per plant (45 DAS), leaf area, seedling girth (45 DAS), number of roots (45 DAS) and root length (45 DAS). The perusal data was observed that in having Soil + Vermicompost (2:1) + Seed soaking with NAA @ 50 ppm (T₃) recorded significantly higher seedling height at 30 and 45 DAS (11.30 and 15.73 cm, respectively). The maximum number of leaves per plant as 7.89 and 9.29, respectively, were recorded in same above treatment T₃ at 30 and 45 DAS. Treatment T₃ recorded the maximum leaf area of papaya seedlings (32.28 cm2) and the maximum stem girth of papaya seedlings at 30 and 45 DAS was recorded as 3.98 mm and 5.48 mm, respectively also in T₃ treatment. Higher number of roots per plant were recorded (18.67) under treatment T3 (Soil+ Vermicompost (2:1) along with 50 ppm NAA. And maximum root length (10.81cm) was observed in treatment T₃ at 45 DAS of papaya seedling. The maximum and significantly higher survival percentage (10 days after transplanting) was also observed in the treatment with the application of Soil + Vermicompost (2:1) + Seed soaking with NAA @ 50 ppm over most of the treatments.