Use of agro-waste as nutritional component in nursery growing media

Quality seedlings are the key factor for vegetable production. A nursery experiment on cucurbit crops was planned with the objective of investigating the effect of agro-waste component in seedling production. Two agro-wastes i.e. rice husk (Rh) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) along with cocopeat (C), perlite (P) and vermiculite (V) were used. Five media combinations (volume basis) were formed and different physico-chemical properties of media and growth traits of seedling plants were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. ANOVA revealed significant variation in all media and plant traits. The physico-chemical properties of M₄ media were comparable with the M₅ (C) media. M₄ (6.4%) media had more organic carbon content than other media. Linear correlation (R²=0.17) was recorded between water holding capacity and bulk density of respective media. Source:sink relation was optimum in M₄ followed by M₂ media. Conclusively, M₄ (SBA:C:P:V in 2:2:1:1 on v/v) media with SBA can be the nutritional component in standard nursery growing media.