Enhanced nursery techniques: Impact on seedling survival and growth of Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica in Bahawalpur

Abstract

The present research work was designed to determine the effects of various nursery techniques on the seedling survival and growth of Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica. The experiment was conducted in the Forest Nursery and Experimental Area, Institute of Forest Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. The study comprised different water treatments, fertilizer treatments and growing media treatments applied on seedlings. Present inquiries outspread the importance of various nursery techniques on the growth potential of two medicinal species regarding plant height and number of leaves. The results showed that among all the treatments, the maximum plant height of M. oleifera (10.65 inches) and A. indica (20.15 inches) was recorded against urea treatment.  In the case of the number of leaves, the maximum number of leaves was found in those plants that were treated with urea in M. oleifera (26.9). The maximum number of leaves for A. indica (61.01) was recorded on those plants that were treated with husks. The overall results showed that the maximum average plant height of M. oleifera and A. indica was achieved through the application of urea fertilizer (0.2 g/pot) while the number of leaves was increased by the application of urea and husk for M. oleifera and A. indica respectively. Treated plants gave better results as compared to the normal conditions. In the future, these treatments can be used for the better production of these plants which will be used in the future as medication in place of endangered or extinct medicinal species, especially in this region.