Selection of suitable growing substrate for vegetable nursery production in a greenhouse

Abstract

The study was carried out in VNR Seeds Pvt. Ltd., in village Gomchi near Nandanvan of Raipur district in Chhattisgarh. Different substrates used are 100% cocopeat, 100% peatmoss, Mixture of 50% cocopeat and 50% peat moss and mixture of 60% cocopeat and 40% vermiculite. After 25 days of seed sowing growth of seedlings in tray with 100% cocopeat we found that the average stem width 3.33 mm, stem length 108 mm, leaf width 42.33 mm, and leaf length 56.66 mm. In cocopeat the sturdy plant development is found. In 100% peat moss the result found is average stem width 3 mm, stem length 91.33 mm, leaf width 33 mm and leaf length 53.33 mm and in mixture of 50% cocopeat and 50% peat moss, average stem width is 3.16 mm, stem length 100.33 mm, leaf width 42.33 mm and leaf length is 49.66 mm. In mixture of 60% cocopeat and 40% peatmoss, average stem width is 2 mm, stem length 64 mm, leaf width 35.66 mm and leaf length is 48 mm. These observation shows that growth of seedlings in tray with cocopeat is better in comparison to other substrates, therefore we considered as better growing substrate among all substrates we used.