THE EFFECT OF POTTING MEDIA ON GROWTH OF DIPTEROCARPUS TURBINATUS GEARTN. F. SEEDLINGS

Abstract

The effect of potting media on growth of Dipterocarpus turbinatus Gaertn f seedlings was investigated under nursery conditions at the ASEAN Forest Tree Seed Centre, Muak-lek, Saraburi, province. The experimental design was Completely Random Design with six treatments and tree replications. These treatments were coconut husk, coconut husk incorporated with osmocote (slow release fertilizer), mycorrhizal soil, mycorrhizal soil incorporated with osmocote, coconut husk mixed with mycorrhizal soil (3: 1) and coconut husk mixed with mycorrhizal soil (3: 1) incorporated with osmocote. Height and diameter at root collar of the seedlings were measured before transplanted into the tested materials and when they were in the nursery for 2, 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively. Shoot, root and total dry weight as well as shoot / root ratios were determined at the end of the experiment. Results from this study revealed that height, diameter at root collar, shoot dry weight root dry weight, total dry weight and shoot / root ratio of D. turbinatus seedlings in six treatments were different significantly coconut husk incorporated with osmocote and coconut husk mixed with mycorrhizal soil (3: 1) incorporated with osmocote encouraged D turbinarus seedlings to have greatest height, diameter and dry weight. However, seedlings of D. turbiratus in coconut husk had the least growth on height, diameter and dry weight. Therefore, it may be concluded that coconut husk incorporated with osmocote and coconut husk mixed with mycorrihzal soil (3: 1) incorporated with osmocote are suitable for raising this species in the nursery. There is a possibility that relationship between mycorrhizae and fertilizer to seedling growth of this species is positive.