INFLUENCE OF <em>IN</em> <em>SITU</em> MOISTURE CONSERVATION METHODS AND FERTILISERS ON EARLY GROWTH OF TEAK (<em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em>)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in a farmer's field at Sugavi village in the hill zone of Karnataka, south India to study the effect of moisture conservation methods and fertilisers on the early growth of teak. Moisture conservation methods, fertilisers and their interactions influenced plant survival, height and collar diameter of teak. Among the moisture conservation methods, ring basin method resulted in higher plant survival (83%), plant height (178 cm) and collar diameter (3.2 cm) after 24 months of planting. Plants grown under chemical fertiliser (CF) + Farmyard manure (FYM) and CF + Vermicompost (VC) showed higher survival (85 and 86% respectively), plant height (205 and 196 cm respectively) and collar diameter (4.0 and 3.7 cm respectively) at the end of 24 months. During the rainy season (June to September), increment in plant height (140 cm) was highly influenced by the ring basin method with CF + FYM as compared with the dry season (October to January and February to May). During the dry season (Oct—Jan) maximum increment in plant height (50.3 cm) was observed under half ring basin with vermicompost (M2F3), while from Feb—May, increment in plant height was maximum in M3F3 (35.0 cm). During the dry season (Oct—Jan), half ring basin with CF + VC (M2F3) recorded highest plant height increment, whereas M1F2 recorded highest collar diameter increment. Plant survival, height increment and collar diameter increment in teak were attributed to better moisture and nutrient absorption.