23. Influence of planting time and bud numbers on growth of Schefflera arboricola propagated through cutting
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Abstract
Influence of timing and bud numbers on growth of Schefflera arboricola propagated through cutting in Peshawar was studied at Ornamental Nursery, Department of Horticulture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar, during May-July 2010. The experiment was performed using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having two factors with split plot arrangement. The cuttings of Schefflera arboricola was planted on seven different dates i.e. 15th May, 25th May, 05th June, 15th June, 25th June, 05th July 15th July. Four different sizes of cuttings were used in the experiments i.e. cuttings with one bud, cuttings with two, three and four buds. The planting time had significant effect on most of growth parameters. The result of the experiment showed that the Schefflera cuttings planted on 15th July, 2010 gave maximum survival percentage (71.19%), sprout length (6.93 cm), number of branch plantֿ¹ (3.70), leaf area (4.80 cm²), sprout thickness (0.44 cm), number of root plantֿ¹ (7.74), root length (22.17 cm) and root weight (1.24 gm). Whereas earliest sprouting (37.01 days) was observed in cuttings planted on 15th July. The different sizes of cuttings had significant response on vegetative propagation of Schefflera through cutting. Cuttings with one bud gave best results for maximum survival percentage (78.49%), sprout length (7.81 cm), number of branches plantֿ¹ (3.55), leaf area (4.91 cm²), sprout thickness (0.41cm), number of root plantֿ¹ (8.16), root length (21.90 cm) and root weight (1.47 gm). Whereas, the earliest sprouting (36.82 days), was observed in cuttings having four buds. The interaction of plantings times and cuttings sizes showed that the Schefflera cuttings with one bud when planted on 15th July, 2010 gave best results in all parameters except days to sprouting. It is concluded from the results of the experiment that the Schefflera cuttings with one bud should be planted during the mid of July under the agro-climatic condition of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.
Keywords: Schefflera arboricola; Cuttings and timings; Rooting