Impact of saline water treatments on vegetative propagation of Bambusa vulgaris var.

vulgaris

By - NISHANT MANDHOTRA Chairman: Dr. K.K.SURESH

ID No.-08-622-006 Professor & Head
M.Sc. (Forestry) (Dept. of Silviculture)

INTRODUCTION
Water quality and quantity has direct impact on growth parameters of plant .Tamil Nadu has water with EC ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 dsm-1 used for the
irrigation. Bambusa vulgaris is a commercially important bamboo, which has limited growth in nurseries when irrigated with saline water.To investigate the
safe limit of salinity in water and its impact at different levels in growth parameters of plant was undertaken.

OBJECTIVES Plate1. Site of experiment RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (contd.)

1) To determine the impact of saline water on growth The root length increased by 36.68 per
parameters of the bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris var. cent under 0.20dSm -1 over the saline
vulgaris). water irrigation with EC of 2.0 dSm -1 and
was observed to be 13.68cm in normal
2) To determine the impact of saline water on the irrigation water.
nutrient status of the growth media in which the plants In root volume there was a difference of
are grown. about 94 per cent over the treatment with
3) To determine the impact of saline water on the EC of 2.0 dSm -1 .Similar observations of
microorganisms in rhizosphere soil in the containers in decrease in the shoot dry weight and
which Bambusa vulgaris is raised through culm cutting. chlorophyll content of the leaves was
Plate2. Effect of saline water on shoot observed with the increase in salinity.
length In soil chemical properties, the EC
of soil was not altered upto saline water
Materials and methods: level 1.0 dSm -1 and it changed
Planting material –Bambusa vulgaris culm cuttings from 1-2 significantly when irrigated with more
years old culm than 1.0 dSm -1 . pH of soil was not altered
significantly. The organic carbon and
Irrigation water – saline water was prepared by adding salts
available nitrogen content of soil
viz. CaCl2, MgSO4, NaHCO3 and NaCl in the ratio of decreased over the period of time upto the
4:2:1:1 respectively to attain different EC levels. EC of 1.0 dSm -1 and thereafter it is
No. of Treatments -10 (Different water with EC of 0.20 maintained.
dSm , 0.50 dSm ,0.75 dSm-1, 1.0 dSm-1, 1.25 dSm-1, 1.5
-1 -1
Fig 1. Effect of saline water treatments on
The phosphorus content
dSm-1, 1.75 dSm-1, 2.0 dSm-1, 3.0 dSm-1 and 4.0 dSm-1 decreased over the period of time. The
sprouting percentage (%)
potassium content decreased over the
namely as T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7,T8 and T9 were
Sprouting percentage (%)

70.00 period of time however; at higher EC

prepared and used as treatments) 60.00
levels the availability was increased.
30 DAP
50.00
No. of Replication-3 Plants per replication-30 40.00 60 DAP The bacterial population was
30.00
Date of Planting - 7.11.2009 20.00 90 DAP unaffected till the salt concentration was
Observations -30, 60, 90 and 120 days after planting 10.00 120 DAP 1.0 dSm -1 . When the concentration was
Polythene bags (25 x 15 cm) were filled with Soil: Sand:
0.00
enhanced from 1.0 to 2.0 dSm -1 steadily,
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7
FYM @ 2:1:1. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) the bacterial population reduced
Treatments
drastically. The fungal population in
was adopted. The cuttings were treated with the IBA at 200
saline water treatment reduced by 30 per
ppm for an overnight and dipped inBavistein (0.01 %) for 5 cent right from 1.25 dSm -1 to 2.0 dSm -1
Plate3. Effect of saline water on root growth
minutes to avoid fungal infection. with maximum reduction of 38 per cent at
Watering was done daily @ 30 ml/polybag using a 2.0 dSm -1 .
measuring cylinder during the initial days and @ 50 The population of actinomycetes
ml/polybag after 45 DAP. Shifting was done once in 30 increased over a period of time with
days along with weeding. The experiment was conducted slight increase in salt concentration. But
the increase in population started to
under 75% shade net. A temporary polythene cover was used
decline with increase in salt concentration
so as to avoid rain water. after 1.0 dSm -1 .Then the population
I reduced drastically to about 50 per cent.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
The decline in sprouting and growth
The highest sprouting percentage(59%) was found attributes is attributed to the adverse
in irrigation water with least EC (0.20 dSm -1) which Plate4. Effect of saline water on soil fungal impact on physiological behaviour of the
was on par with treatments up to an EC of 1.0 dSm -1, population plant due to accumulated salts from
while a progressive decrease in sprouting percentage water.
was found with the increase in EC after 1.0 dSm -1. The decline in population of the
No sprouting was observed with EC of 3.0 dSm -1 and microorganisms population count is
4.0 dSm -1. attributed to the negative osmotic
The number of sprouts reduced significantly with the potential which causes the dehydration
increase in the salinity beyond 1.0 dSm -1. and plasmolysis of the microorganisms
The average shoot length of 86.69 cm was observed leading to their death and slower growth.
under water treatment with an EC of 0.20 dSm -1 as
against 39.61 cm for EC of 2.0 dSm -1 which is less Conclusion :
than 50 per cent of the former . Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris through single nodal culm cutting planted in polybag containers
The collar diameter was noted to be less with grows best under the conditions where irrigation water has an EC level upto 1.0 dSm-1. The
increase salinity level in irrigation water. The normal growth potential declines with the increase in EC above this limit and inhibit sprouting
water gave a reading of 5.56 mm as against 3.06 mm completely at EC of 3.0 dSm-1 and 4.0 dSm-1. Hence, for vegetative propagation of Bambusa
in treatment with EC of 2.0 dSm -1 at 120 DAP. vulgaris var. vulgaris the EC of the irrigation water used should always be less than 1.0 dSm-1
for getting high percentage of sprouting and good quality seedlings.
Acknowledgement: This research could not have carried out without the sincere efforts and guidance of Dr. KK Suresh, Dr.N.Chandrasekaran and
Dr.T.Kalaiselvi. I am also grateful to the Dean FC&RI,Mettupalayam, TNAU Coimbatore for providing the facilities of research and ICAR, Delhi for
giving me an opportunity to carry out the research in the esteemed campus.