Abstract

A study was conducted to find out the effect of different soil pH and organic matter on germination, seedling growth and chemical attributes of Eucalyptus tereticornis. The seeds were sown in soil with different pH (8.1, 9.0, 10.2 and 10.5) and the different pH soil mixed with sand + farm yard manure at 2:1:1 ratio compared with control (red earth + sand + farm yard manure at 2:1:1 ratio). After 14 days seeds sown in nursery mixture of soil with pH of 10.2 + sand + farm yard manure at 2:1:1 ratio gave maximum germination (69.0), which was on par with other treatments. Significant differences were observed among treatments for all seedling growth parameters (survival percentage, root and shoot length, number of leaves / seedling, collar diameter, root and shoot dry weight and leaf area) and chemical constituents (chlorophyll a,b and total) and total N,P and K content of 180 days old seedling.

Keywords: Eucalyptus tereticornis, Soil alkalinity, Organic matter, Germination, Seedling vigour