Effect of Green Waste Compost on Growth and Root Morphology of Ornamental Shrubs

The present investigations on effect of green waste compost on growth and root morphology of the present investigations on ornamental shrubs were undertaken at, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during March 2021-February 2022. One year old three ornamental shrubs (Murraya paniculata, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Tabernaemontana coronaria) were transplanted in polybags of size 9×7 inches, filled with green waste compost (GWC) and soil in different proportions during second week of March 2021. The maximum plant height (57.33 cm), root collar diameter (10.00 mm), number of primary branches per plant (3.30), shoot dry weight (23.70 g), primary root diameter (12.55 mm) and plant nitrogen percentage (3.73%) were observed in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in GWC 50% + soil 50%. Maximum root dry weight (13.95 g) and primary root length (11.61 cm) were observed in Murraya paniculata in GWC 50% + soil 50%. Plants growing in media (GWC 100%) were somewhat stunted and chlorotic for several weeks after transplanting probably due to higher levels of EC (4.15 dS/m) and pH (7.62). The growing media composition was observed to be an ideal in GWC 50% + Soil 50% i.e. pH (7.22), EC (1.64 dS/m), OC (2.39%), available nitrogen (0.55%), available phosphorus (0.22%), available K (0.47%), total porosity (38.50%) and water holding capacity (123.67%) for nursery raising of ornamental shrubs. Based on growth performance evaluated, the sequence for growth parameters is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis >Murraya paniculata >Tabernaemontana coronaria. GWC 50% + soil 50% proved superior growing medium for growth of three ornamental shrubs.