Krishna P. Paudyal
Horticulture research Division, Nepal Agriculture Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur

DOI

ABSTRACT

Different experiments were carried out in mid-hill (100 m) and Terai (72 m) of Nepal to determine the effect of rooting media, branch positions, seasons, plant growth regulator and age of mother plant on rooting of pummelo layers. The layers made on Cocopeat as rooting medium produced highest percentage of rooted layers (88%) followed by Madhumas (84%). The one year old branches exposed to sun light gave highest success in rooting when layering was carried out in July (82%) and April (77%). The percentage of rooting decreased linearly with increased age of mother trees. The trees less than 20 years old gave better results in comparison to older trees. Success rate in layering was similar both in Terai and mid-hill conditions and application of auxin (Rootex-3) did not impart significant effect to increase the percentage of rooted layers. The conditions associated with higher percentage of rooted layers also produced higher number and longer roots. Statistically, the success rate in rooting was similar in the layers made in April and July but the layers prepared in April gave higher success rate (85%) than the layers prepared in July (67%) at nursery establishment.