Effect of Washing and Non-Washing of Seeds on Germination of Papaya Seedling (Carica papaya L.) cv. Pusa Nanha

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the response of washing and non- washing of seeds on germination of papaya seedling at the CRC Farm, ITM University, Gwalior (M.P.). The experiment was laid out in the Randomized Block Design using 4 media with or without washing of seeds with tap water comprising 12 treatments combinations (viz., controlled (soil + water), vermiwash (50%) + wood dust, vermiwash (50%) + cocopeat, vermiwash (50%) + pond soil, cow-urine (50%) + wood dust, cow-urine (50%) + cocopeat, cow-urine (50%) + pond soil,  vermiwash (100%) + wood dust, vermiwash (100%) + cocopeat, vermiwash (100%) + pond soil,  cow-urine (100%) + wood dust, cow-urine (100%) + cocopeat,  cow-urine (100%) + pond soil which were replicated thrice. For experimental purpose, freshly ripe fruits of papaya were purchased from the papaya-growing farmer of IARI, New Delhi and seeds were sown in the poly bag (4x24 inch sized). The results indicated that the application of Vermiwash (100%) + pond soil recorded minimum days (6.78) required for initiation to germination, minimum days (9.22) required for 50 per cent germination while maximum (100.00) germination percentage in papaya seedlings. Thus, washing of papaya seedlings with vermiwash +pond soil will increase the germination and in turn the production of papaya.