Standardization of method and time of vegetative propagation in tamarind under semi-arid environment of western India

An experiment was conducted to standardize method and time of propagation in tamarind. Patch budding and soft-wood grafting (cleft method) were carried out at monthly interval. Patch budded plants sprouted earliest during August (22 days) followed by July (23 Days) and June (24.25 days). The maximum time was taken in the February (32 days). Higher percentage of graft success was noted in August in patch budded plants, whereas it was recorded to be highest in soft wood grafted plants in May, closely followed by April. Soft-wood grafted plants had the higher number of leaves than patch budded plants. Irrespective of scion and rootstock, maximum accumulation of nitrogen and carbohydrate content was recorded during May, June, July and August, while it was found lower during September, October, November, December, January and February. It was concluded that patch budding in July-August and soft wood grafting in April-May may be adopted in the region for multiplication of elite tamarind genotypes.