Effect of Growing Media and Light Intensities on Seed Germination of Mahogany (Swietenia mahogany (L.) Jacq.) in South Eastern Region of Rajasthan, India
Naveen Sharma
*
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, 326023, India.
S. B. S Pandey
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, 326023, India.
Prahlad V. C.
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, 326023, India.
Kanica Upadhyay
Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, 326023, India.
Rahul Chopra
Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, 326023, India.
Prerak Bhatnagar
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, 326023, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A study was conducted from June 2024 to July 2024 at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalrapatan (Rajasthan) to assess the effect of growing media and light intensities on the germination of Swietenia mahogany (L.) Jacq. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (Factorial CRD) comprising 69 treatment combinations, derived from 23 growing media formulations (combinations of soil, sand, vermicompost, and FYM) and three light intensity levels (100%, 50%, and 25%), to evaluate their individual and interactive effects on germination parameters. The Soil: Sand: VC (1:1:1) (M10) and M16 [Soil: Sand: FYM (1:1:2)] mixtures showed the earliest 50% germination and peak germination. M20 [Soil: Sand: VC: FYM (1:1:2:1)] produced the highest germination percentage, earliest completion of germination. At 50% light intensity (L1), most of the parameters showed better performance except early peak germination. Among interactions, L2M20 showed the earliest germination, highest germination rate and earliest peak of germination.
Keywords: Swietenia mahogany, germination, light intensity, growing media