Response of different media and PGR's on rooting and survival of airlayers in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Sindhuri

The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in thirteen treatments with three replications. The treatments were Soil (control) (Black fertile garden soil), Soil + IBA 5000ppm, Soil + NAA 5000ppm, Soil + IBA 2500ppm + NAA 2500ppm, Sphagnum moss + IBA 5000ppm, Sphagnum moss + NAA 5000ppm, Sphagnum moss + IBA 2500ppm + NAA 2500ppm, Coco peat + IBA 5000ppm, Coco peat + NAA 5000ppm, Coco peat + IBA 2500ppm + NAA 2500ppm, Saw dust + IBA 5000ppm, Saw dust + NAA 5000ppm, Saw dust + IBA 2500ppm + NAA 2500ppm. The result indicated that the sphagnum moss with IBA 5000ppm was best combination giving the best rooting, survival and was economical also. The air layers made with sphagnum moss + IBA 5000ppm showed early root initiation (17.33 days) and also recorded minimum number of days (25.66 days) in respect of bulk appearance of root. Significantly highest number of primary roots (14) and secondary roots (40) were recorded in sphagnum moss + IBA 5000ppm followed by coco peat + IBA 5000ppm. The treatment combination sphagnum moss + IBA 5000ppm significantly influenced root length and fresh, dry weight of root and showed maximum root length (7.5 cm), fresh root weight (0.74 g) and dry root weight (0.29 g). After 45 days the maximum survival percentage of air layers in the nursery bed (73.33%) and in poly bag (100%) was observed in air layering with sphagnum moss + IBA 5000ppm. The highest net CBR 1:2.13 and 1:2.85 was observed in the planting rooted layers in nursery bed as well as poly bags respectively with the treatment sphagnum moss + IBA 5000ppm. Based on this investigation use of sphagnum moss with application IBA 5000ppm may be recommended for better rooting and survival of air layers in pomegranate cv. Sindhuri.