Influence of seed soaking and growing media on seed germination and vigour of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) seedlings

An experiment was conducted during 2023-24 at Fruit Research Station, Imaliya, Department of Horticulture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) to see the effect of seed soaking and growing media on seed germination, growth and survival of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.). A total of 16 treatment combinations of seed soaking treatments and growing media were arranged in factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Treatment combinations have shown a significant impact on the germination and vigour of aonla seedlings. Among the different treatment combinations used seed soaked with GA₃ @ 500 ppm and sown in growing media soil+ cocopeat i.e., S₂M₂ showed minimum days taken to first germination (6.90) and days taken to 50% germination (12.79). The treatment combination (S₂M₂) of GA₃ @ 500 ppm and growing media (soil + cocopeat) gave maximum seedling vigour index I (5096.97 cm), while maximum seedling vigour index II (941.16) was recorded with a combination of soaking media cow urine at 10% and growing media (soil and vermicompost) i.e., S₃M₃. Physiological attributes viz. leaf area index (5.46), leaf area duration (970 cm²day), and light transmission ratio (35.11) were found superior in the treatment combination of cow urine at 10% and soil + cocopeat + vermicompost i.e., S₃M₄ as well as maximum chlorophyll content index (40.48) were shown by treatment combination of GA₃ @ 500 ppm and growing media (soil, cocopeat and vermicompost) i.e., S₂M₄.