Seed Germination, Seedling Growth and Surviva...

Seed Germination, Seedling Growth and Survival of Sal (Shorea robusta) and it’s Associate’s Species in Jharkhand

Author Name : Ankita Sinha, Kamlesh Pandey

ABSTRACT

Sal forest (Sal with its associates) has been the subject of great interest for the forest researchers and plantation managers not only for benefits but they are categorized under recalcitrant seeds and possess a very short period of viability. Though the plants produce flowers and fruits luxuriantly in the plains and foothills, its overall natural regeneration is very poor. Shorea robusta is state tree of the Jharkhand and very dominant species of the forests of Jharkhand but due to adverse biotic interferences repeatedly in the past condition of Sal and its associates are getting retrograded which needs to be looked over. Also for establishment of Sal forest in Jharkhand many plantations are going on in which Sal is planted with its associates to provide the Sal with all the possible biotic features .Present study was undertaken in this regard to explore the seed germination potential, seedling growth and survival of Sal and its associate species in nursery condition in Jharkhand. During investigation it was found that Diopyros melanoxylon (90%) shows maximum germination percentage among the selected species followed Terminilia bellerica (85%), Shorea robusta (78%), least germination was shown by Pterocarpus marsupium (66%) which was at par with Cassia fistula (77%).