Journal of Environmental Biology

Influence of sowing depth and orientation on germination and

seedling emergence of Cinnamomum tamala Nees

B. Singh¹*, J.M.S. Rawat² and Vivek Pandey^{3, 4}

¹Department of Forestry, College of Forestry, VCSG UUHF Ranichauri Campus, Tehri Garhwal - 249 199, India

²Department of Horticulture, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal - 246 174, India

³Department of Vegetable Science, College of Forestry, VCSG UUHF Ranichauri Campus, Tehri Garhwal - 249 199, India

⁴Regional Research Station, Punjab Agriculture University, Gurdaspur - 143 521, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: butola_bs@yahoo.co.in

Key words

Biomass yield,

Cinnamomum tamala,

Germination index,

Orientation treatment,

Sowing depth

Publication Data

Paper received : 02.09.2015

Revised received : 03.05.2016

Re-revised received : 17.06.2016

Accepted : 13.07.2016

Abstract

Aim: The effect of sowing depth and orientation on germination, seedling development and biomass yield of Cinnamomum tamala were studied. Buried depth and orientation is potentially important for successful germination and seedling development for regeneration.

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Methodology: Seeds of C. tamala were sown at 3 cm, 5 cm and 7 cm, buried in horizontal, upright and inverted orientation treatments.

Results: Fewer seeds were germinated as buried depth increased.? Relative to buried at 3 cm and 5 cm depth, emergents were fewer and delayed for seeds buried at 7 cm.? Upright seed orientation enhanced germination relative to seeds sown in an inverted or horizontal orientation. Seed depth and orientation also affected germination time. Deeply buried seed significantly (p<0.05) affected the shoot length, root length, number of leaves and their biomass allocation. Orientation treatment significantly (p<0.05) impacted shoot and root length and their biomass allocation. ??

Interpretation: Seeds buried at shallow depths and upright orientation, were more favourable to seedling emergence and therefore, might play an important role in survival of newly emerged seedling of C. tamala.

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