Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STANDARDIZATION OF PERIOD FOR SOFT WOOD GRAFTING OF SAPOTA IN POLYHOUSE, SHADE NET HOUSE AND OPEN CONDITIONS

A.S. Nagargoje, P.M. Metkari and S.A. Jawale

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Standardization of period for soft wood grafting of sapota in polyhouse, shade net house and open conditions” was undertaken in the Department of Horticulture, Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during the year 2008-09. The experiment was carried out in factorial randomized block design with 36 treatment combinations. The treatment consisted of softwood grafting of sapota on 1st January to 1st December. With an interval of one month with monthly interval in both the years in all conditions. In recent, past there has been increasing interest in the concept of grafting under polyhouse, Shade net house and open conditions for their increase in the percentage success and growth of grafts in comparison with open conditions. Therefore, efforts were made to probe into the grafting success and growth of successful sapota grafts on one to two year old Khirni seedlings under polyhouse shade net house and open conditions around the year at an interval of one month. On the basis of results obtained in present investigation, it can be concluded that, Days required for sprouting of softwood grafting of sapota, initial success, final success, height, diameter of graft, length of scion shoot, diameter of sprouted scion shoot, Number of sprouted scion buds per graft, number of leaves per graft, leaf area of sapota per graft, tap root length and secondary roots of sapota, Root : Shoot Ratio of sapota after 90 days were possible only in four months of the year and specifically extending from July to October under polyhouse, shade net house and open conditions. On the basis of results, September month was congenial period for sapota grafting for highest success and maximum vegetative growth under polyhouse, Shade net house and open conditions. But polyhouse conditions can be superior than other conditions. It can be recommended on the basis of present study that sapota seedling should be grafted in the month of September for higher per cent success and maximum vegetative growth.