Influence of Fermented Cocopeat on Seedling Vigour in some Vegetables, Marigold and Pigeon Pea

Seedlings of four solanaceous, two cruciferous, five cucurbitaceous vegetables, and, marigold and pigeon pea were grown in pro-trays filled with 'Arka Fermented' coco-peat or on conventional raised bed. Seedlings grown on raised bed were superior in all the crops excepting capsicum. Pigeon pea recorded significantly longer tap ischolar_main in pro-trays with the ischolar_main getting matted at the base of the coco-peat plug. The plug is rendered redundant at transplanting. To enhance the vigour of 'Arka Ananya' tomato seedlings in pro-trays, modification in growth medium was attempted by blending soil in various proportions and adding 0.2% humic acid to the irrigation water. Blending cocopeat:soil at 3:1 ratio caused some improvement compared to that with cocopeat alone or 1:1 and 1:3 blends of cocopeat:soil. Soil alone, placed in the pro-tray, also failed to equal the high seedling vigour produced by conventional raised bed method. Addition of 0.2% humic acid in water used for irrigating pro-trays showed no improvement in seedling vigour. Reduced vigour of seedlings raised in pro-trays in several vegetables, and poor performance of such seedlings in tomato, cabbage and cauliflower crops in the field, indicates a need for further improvement in the technology.