Refinement of aonla propagation through budding under hot arid ecosystem

Abstract

The investigation on refinement of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn) propagation through budding under hot arid ecosystem was conducted at Central Institute of Arid Horticulture, Bikaner (Rajasthan) in three consecutive years (2002-2004). The treatment comprised of nine filling mixtures and four sizes of polybags. The cultivar NA 7 was used scion and seeds of desi aonla were used for raising of rootstocks. The results revealed that polybags of 25x15 cm size either filled with field sandy soil + pond soil + compost (1:1:1) or field sandy soil + FYM (1:2) gave more than 80 per cent success after patch budding in the month of June, which induced more than 45 cm of budling growth in the month of July. These treatment combinations had also given better seed germination, percentage rootstock survival, height and girth of rootstocks, longer and fibrous root system. Though, the input cost per plant was comparatively higher in these treatments but the overall benefit was more, because of the high rate of budding success. The refinement made by this investigation was that the size of polybags standardized as 25 x 15 cm instead of 40 x 15 cm; thereby the weight of filling mixture reduced considerably (3.25 kg per polybag) i.e. half of the previous practice (6.63 kg per polybag) under wet conditions). The plants are ready for transplanting in the month of August under hot arid ecosystem. The plants are also feasible for transportation due to low weight and uniform in size. Moreover, proper irrigation, nutrition and care of mother block is essential to get the scion shoots in the month of June.