Effects of salinity and pre-sowing treatments on the growth parameters of the Tectona grandis L.F. seedlings under nursery condition

To study the effect of different pre-sowing treatments and salinity levels on the growth parameters of Tectona grandis (Teak) seedling, a nursery experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan. The seedlings germinated under different pre-sowing treatments were subjected to different levels of salinity. Pre-sowing treatments consist of control (P 0), Alternate wetting and drying (12 hours) for 21 days (P 1), Soaking in cow dung slurry for 7 days (P2) and Soaking in concentrated H2SO4 (75%) for 20 minutes (P3). Salinity levels include control (0 dSm-1), 3 and 6 dSm-1. The experimental results showed that pre-sowing treatments had significant influence on growth attributes in seedlings. Among the four pre-sowing treatments, alternate wetting and drying for 12 hours done for 21 days (P1) was found to be best in all growth attributes. The study also revealed that salinity levels had significant negative influences on all the growth attributes. No significant interaction between pre-sowing treatments and salinity levels on seedling growth parameters was observed during the study.