ASSESSMENT OF ROOTING MEDIA FOR ENHANCING SURVIVABILITY AND PROFITABILITY OF AIR LAYERING IN LITCHI

AJAY KUMAR DAS¹, SHIVNATH DAS²*, BIRENDRA PRASAD³, SANGEETA MEHTA⁴, RAKESH DEO RANJAN^5
1Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, 813210, Bihar India
²Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, 813210, Bihar India
³Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, 813210, Bihar India
⁴Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, 813210, Bihar India
⁵Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, 813210, Bihar India
* Corresponding Author : shivnath.das@rediffmail.com

Received : 21-06-2016     Accepted : 04-08-2016     Published : 27-10-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 51       Pages : 2260 - 2262
Int J Agr Sci 8.51 (2016):2260-2262

Keywords : Sphagnum moss, Rooting media, Air layering, Litchi, Survivability and Profitability
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

Rooting percentage (86.83), survival percentage (91.69), number of primary roots (14.12), length of primary roots (5.43 cm), numbers of secondary roots (40.68) of litchi air layering were found to be maximum under the treatment IBA 5000 ppm + sphagnum moss (T2) and were showed significantly superior over all the treatments [NAA 5000 ppm + sphagnum moss (T1), sphagnum moss (T3) and River bed soil as farmers practice (T4)]. However, days to come leaf after detachment found to be early in T2 (18.50) followed by T1 (21.10), T3 (22.28) and T4 (27.60). All the treatments were significantly superior over farmers practice (T4) in terms of rooting and survival percentage, number of primary and secondary roots, length of primary roots as well as days to come leaf after detachment. Higher economic efficiency (0.045) and sphagnum efficiency index (0.82.37) were found with the treatment IBA 5000 ppm + sphagnum moss (T2) Similar results were found in case of net monetary returns (915.10 Rs/50 layering), B:C ratio (1.98), and net profit per layering(Rs 19.96) .These were significantly superior than rest of the treatments. Thus sphagnum moss along with 5000 ppm IBA should be practiced as rooting media for enhancing survivability and profitability of air layering in litchi (var. Shahi) under agro climatic zone II of Bihar.