EFFECT OF GROWING MEDIA ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF PAPAYA cv. ‘RED LADY’

The study was carried out to study the effect of growing media on seed germination and seedling growth of papaya (Carrica papaya). For germination and seedling growth three types of media and three levels of cocopeat were studied. This experimented was conducted in a complete randomized design with nine treatment combinations and replicated thrice. The results showed that the medium of vennicompost + sand + pond soil (1: 1:1) with 2cm cocopeat on top of the polybags (T9) gave maximum speed of emergence (493.34), highest germination percent (92.71%), highest seedlig our (89.33), maximwn germination index (7.18), germination value (25.58), least time required for imbibtion (9.37 days) and minimum gennination period (3.22 days). This medium was also found to be the best mediun for the growth of papaya seedlings as it gave the highest value of growth parameters of seedling growth like, seedling height (23.05 cm), leaf area (339.26 cm2), nwnber of leaves (9.84), stem diameter (3.32 mm), number of roots (16.68), root length (9.93 cm), production of total biomass (4.89 g/plant) and least root/shoot ratio (0.21). This treatment significantly reduced the seedling mortality and produced maximwn healthy seedlings (92.69%) in minimun days (35.24) with highest net profit (Rs. 3470.65/1000 seedling) and B: C ratio (1.84) of seedlings.