Optimization of Growing Media Composition for Peach Rootstock Seedlings

Abstract

Growing media directly influences a peach's development of a robust root system, which ultimately contributes to a healthy, vigorous rootstock. During the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, this experiments were conducted to evaluate and optimize the growing media compositions for peach rootstock seedlings. The experiments were carried out in three replications using a CRD design with ten treatments; namely, Topsoil (100%), Compost (100%), FYM (100%), Topsoil (75%) + Compost (25%), Topsoil (75%) + FYM (25%), Topsoil (50%) + FYM (25%) + Compost (25%), Topsoil (25%) + Compost (75%), Topsoil (25%) + FYM (75%), Compost (75%) + FYM (25%), and FYM (75%) + Compost (25%). The results showed that the composition of the media affected the number of peach seedling leaves per plant, seedling height, collar girth, and leaf area of peach seedlings. The medium of Topsoil (25%) + Compost (75%) fill polybags was the best media because seedling growth and development parameters were higher in this medium than in the other media.

Keywords: Peach, planting media, compost, topsoil, girth, leaf area, plant height, leaf number

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-19-03

Publication date:October 31^st 2022