Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ECO-FRIENDLY UTILIZATION OF FLY ASH IN FOREST NURSERY FOR QUALITY PLANTING MATERIAL PRODUCTION OF PELTOPHORUM PTEROCARPUM (DC) K. HEYNE

M.C. Behera, Ongmu Lachungpa, T.L. Mohanty and H. Nayak

Abstract

The present study demonstrates the impact of fly ash (FA) on seed germination and growth performance of Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K. Heyne at seedling stage. Substrate was prepared by blending FA to pot mixture (Sand, Soil and FYM in ratio 1:2:1) at concentrations 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% & 100 % (w/w). The experiment design was CRD with six treatment and three replications. Freshly collected seeds were sown after hot water treatment. The observations on germination and growth performance were compared with the pot mixture (PM (control)). FA significantly (P< 0.05) influenced seed germination and seedling growth. Maximum germination rate (84.00%), germination value (21.26) and germination index (1.64) was observed in 20 % FA at 30 days after sowing (DAS). One month old seedlings were transplanted in polythene pots (12.5 X 25 cm) containing above mentioned FA blended growth media. Observations were made at 30 days after transplanting (DAT) for survival rate and at 90 DAT for growth dynamics. The highest survival rate (86.00 %) at 30 DAT was recorded in 20 % FA. At 90 DAT the maximum plant height (30.33 cm), number of leaves (9.67) and mean root length (29.50 cm) was observed in 20% FA but collar diameter growth (4.00 cm) was in 40 % FA. The photosynthetic pigment Chlorophyll- a & b were increased in a dose dependent manner and recorded maximum at 40% FA blending (19.53 mg/g & 9.14 mg/g respectively). The seedling quality index (Dickson’s Quality Index) value derived maximum at 20 % FA (0.433).