EFFECT OF VARIED LEVELS OF NITROGEN AND POPULATION DENSITY ON THE NURSERY PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED PROVENANCES OF Populus ciliata Wall ex. ROYALE

摘要

A study was conducted to determine the combined influence of different level of nitrogen (0,50,75,100 kg ha-1) and spacing (15 x 30, 30x 30,45x 30 cm) on the nursery performance of selected provenances of Populus ciliata (Katrain, Nagni, Dalhousie, cantt, Surkhigala and Narkanda) at the nursery experimental area of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni- Solan (HP) during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. The experiment was conducted in aSplit-Split Design replicated thrice. The application of N significantly increased the shoot height, diameter, number of leaves and leaf area of various provenance clones at different level of spacing. The nitrogen application @ 75 kg ha-1 produced maximum growth and superior stock. A spacing of 45x 30 cm exhibited the maximum growth of the nursery stock. The clone Nagni excelled for survival and various plant growth attributes. The interaction effects of various treatment combinations revealed the maximum growth potential of the clone Nagni when nourished with 75 kg N ha -1 at 45x 30 cm spacing in the nursery.