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EFFECT OF SOIL pH IN ROOTING AND GROWTH OF TEA CUTTINGS (CAMELLIA SINENSIS L.) AT NURSERY LEVEL

F.S. HAMID, TAHIRA AHMAD, *B.M. KHAN, A. WAHEED AND NASEER AHMED

Abstract: Single nodal tea cuttings were obtained from the healthy bushes and raised in different soil media during the year 1999, 2000 and 2001 in the nursery at National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari, Mansehra. The soil was treated with different levels of farm yard manure (F.YM), aluminium sulphate (Al₂(SO₄)₃), and sulphur (S) and filled in polythene sleeves. The experiment was repeated for consecutive three years. Aluminium sulphate @ 600 g m^-3 gave the maximum shoot length, number of leaves and number of roots followed by the elemental sulphur @ 300 g^-3. Significant reduction was observed in soil pH in the nursery during the experimental years with different amendments. Aluminium sulphate was found to have more acidifying effect as compared to the other treatments.
 

National Tea Research Institute, PARC, Shinkiari Mansehra, Pakistan.

* Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid- i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.