Effect of Different Pre-Sowing Treatments on Germination of Persian Walnut (Juglans Regia L.) in Rukum (East) District, Nepal

Abstract

A field-based experiment was carried out in Rukum (East), Nepal, from February to June 2020, to assess the effect of different pre-sowing treatments on germination of Persian walnut. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments included hot water treatment, chilling stratification only, cracking + Gibberellic acid (500ppm) followed by chilling stratification, cracking + Gibberellic acid (750ppm) followed by chilling stratification, Gibberellic acid (500ppm) + chilling stratification and Gibberellic acid (750ppm) + chilling stratification. The minimum days for germination (15.75 days) and highest germination (53.25%) were obtained when the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 750 ppm along with chilling stratification was done. The maximum shoot length (34.83 cm) was observed in the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by stratification but statistically similar shoot length (34.63 cm) was observed when cracking, application of GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by stratification was done. Cracking, treatment with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by chilling stratification resulted in the highest shoot fresh weight (11.93 gm) and root fresh weight (10.77 gm) compared to the other treatments used. Thus, cracking along with treatment by GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by chilling stratification could be suggested to the walnut growers for better germination and a better morphological and physiological status of the rootstocks/seedlings.

Determinants of the adoption of different good agricultural practices (GAP) in the command area of PMAMP apple zone in Nepal: The case of Mustang district

“…In Nepal, pesticide residue in fruit crops is reported to be about 0.029 kg ai/ha [ 1 ]. The conventionally produced temperate fruits, like apples, gives a low yield and is inferior in quality in Nepal [ 11 ]. Despite the increasing area under apple cultivation, productivity remains the same because of the lack of adoption of good agricultural practices (GAP) among the farmers, which is a cause for the low profitability of apple sub-sector.…”