Effect of cattle urine and cowdung slurry as seed treatment on germination and growth of Khirni (Manilkara hexandra L.)

The field experiment was carried out at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lanja, Dist. Ratnagiri during the period 2009–10 to study the effect of cattle urine and cowdung slurry on germination and growth of Khirni. The results indicated that there was significant effect of soaking seed with cattle urine and cowdung slurry over control. The significantly early (15.24 days) and maximum (66.11%) germination were recorded in treatment having 12 hrs soaking in cattle urine + 12 hrs keeping in cow dung slurry with rapid growth of plant. The seedling height (33.19 cm), number of leaves (17.23 seedling⁻¹), length of primary roots (15.71 cm) and number of tertiary roots (41 seedling⁻¹) were also higher with treatment 12 hrs soaking in urine + 12 hrs keeping in cowdung slurry.