Effect of Growing Media and Inorganic Phosphorus on Growth and Development of Maggar Bans (Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Munro) Planting Stock

Studies were conducted to investigate the effect of five growing mediums and four levels of inorganic phosphorus on the growth and development of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii planting stock under mid-hill conditions of north-western Himalayas. The growing medium and phosphorus levels significantly influenced various growth and development traits individually as well as in combinations. The growing medium viz., sand + soil + FYM (1:1:1) proved to be significantly superior for enhancing height and diameter growth of the tiller's, number of tiller per sapling, number of nodes per tiller, number of ischolar_mains, length of ischolar_mains, number of rhizomes, dry weight of stem, ischolar_mains, rhizomes and underground biomass. Among the various levels of phosphorus, 5 g SSP/propagule significantly proved to be the best dose. In combination effect, the maximum dry weight of rhizome (2.82 g plant^-1 ) and underground biomass (9.69 g plant^-1 ) was recorded in the propagules grown in sand: soil: FYM (1:1:1 ) and supplied with P @ 5 g SSP/propagule.