84. Growth potential of primed Moringa oleifera varieties under nursery and field conditions of Potohar region-Pakistan
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Abstract
Moringa oleifera is a fast emergent multiuse tree. It is protein rich and is used as human food, cattle fodder and medicine. Present research study was carried out to know growth and germination potential of untreated, tap water and hot water treated seeds of four varieties of Moringa oleifera in nursery and field conditions in field area of Koont research farm, Peer Mehar Ali Shah (PMAS), Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. After treatment seeds were sown in polythene bags in nursery. Germination of seed was recorded for three weeks in laboratory as well as in nursery conditions and statistically analyzed using ANOVA techniques. Simple water, hot water and control enhanced 60%, 71.5% and 41.75% germination in this experiment. Hot water treatment has shown maximum germination percentage in all varieties i.e 80 % in Kumasi Middle Ghana, 85 % in Sunyam Middle Ghana, 62 % in Northern Ghana and 59 % in Tehiman Middle Ghana. Maximum plant height 17.12 cm was recorded in T2 followed by 14.9 cm and 10.8 in T1 and T3, respectively. In nursery conditions, T2 treated plants had maximum stem diameter which was 2.52 mm followed by T1 and T3 that was 2.1 mm and 1.8 mm, respectively. Moringa plants of T1 in field condition had maximum 4.71 mm diameter significantly greater than 3.87 mm (T2) and 3.79 mm (T1) respectively.
Keywords: Growth; Moringa; Nursery; Priming