PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF COCONUT (COCOS NUCIFERA L.) SEEDLINGS BY ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER AMENDMENTS AT KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The study was undertaken to determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers mendments on the growth parameters of coconut seedlings in field at the Coastal gricultural Research Station, Karachi. The seedling height and number of leaves were significantly high in treatment T7 (Neem seed powder) (27.62 ± 8.74) and treatment T5 (NPK) (27.18 ± 8.60). The maximum number of the roots was observed in T1 (NPK + Neem seed powder + Gliricidia sepium) (2.26 ± 0.71) and T3 (NPK + Gliricidia sepium) (1.69 ± 0.53), where as minimum roots was recorded in T8 (Control) (0.94 ± 0.29). The maximum number of leaves was observed in T4 (Neem seed powder + Gliricidia epium) (1.49±0.47) and T1 (1.31±0.41). The results showed the beneficial effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on seedlings. The work indicated morphological diversity of seedlings at the nursery stage to help the growers in choosing planting materials for their gardens in coastal area of Sindh and Balochistan.