Production of Quality Seedlings Using Improved Polythene Bag Seedling Production System

Comparative study on quality of seedlings of six important tree species, viz., Acacia catechu, Albizia lebbek, Azadirachta indica, Dalbergia sissoo, Pinus roxburghii and Prosopis julifiora raised in different sized ischolar_main trainers, polythene bags kept on mounted angle iron (MAI) beds and nursery beds has shown that significant variations exist in almost all seedling morphological parameters, viz., height, collar diameter, number of nodules, tap ischolar_main length shoot biomass, fibrous ischolar_main biomass, tap ischolar_main biomass and total ischolar_main biomass among all the treatments. When compared on the basis of seedling quality parameters, viz., sturdiness, ischolar_main/shoot ratio and ratio of fibrous to total ischolar_main biomass, it was observed that the seedlings raised in ischolar_main trainers and polythene bags kept on MAI beds performed better. The study has shown tbat seedlings of higher quality can be raised in polythene bags kept on MAI beds as compared to those on nursery beds. The seedlings raised in ischolar_main trainers were however, not only significantly smaller in dimensions of height and collar diameter when compared with seedlings raised on MAI beds but also require significantly higher capital investment. Raising of quality seedlings in 11×20 em sized polythene bags kept on MAI beds is recommended on account of better quality and long term cost effectiveness.