Performance of neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds collected from different districts of Haryana

In order to study the performance of Neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds under semi-arid condition. Seed samples were collected from plus trees of Neem from nineteen districts of Haryana state. Fresh seeds of equal maturity were collected by shaking the branches on a clean floor. The basic characters of mother trees such as height, forking height, dbh were recorded which varied from 5.6 to 16.5 m, 1.5 to 9.5 m, 45.7 to 195.4 cm respectively. Crown spreads was measured in four directions (North, East, West, South) and its mean size varied from 2.8 to 9.8m. Seed bearing habit of selected plus tree of different districts varied from moderate to heavy and their stem was straight in nature. Seed pulp was removed by washing with water and dried in shade. These seeds were sown in polyethylene bags filled with mixture of sand and FYM in 2:1 ratio in nursery area of Forestry department, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. On the basis of percent Germination and other growth parameters viz., survival (%), plant height (cm) and collar diameter (mm) recorded at 180 days of sowing. It was revealed that there was high variability among the seed lots. The seed lots collected from Yamunanagar district performed significantly better followed by Faridabad and Jind districts than the seeds lots collected from other districts of Haryana.