Effects of Seed Soaking and Growing Media on Germination and Survivability of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)

Seed germination is the most important aspect for raising the nursery for successful seedling production of acid lime. The present study was carried out to explore the effect of different seed soaking treatment with growing media on seed germination and survivability of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) under net house condition. The experiments were laid out as a Completely Randomized Design with Factorial concept comprising twenty four treatment combinations with three replicates. The seeds of acid lime were treated with different seed soaking: water, GA3 @ 50 ppm, GA3 @ 100 ppm, cow urine @ 25%, cow urine @ 50% and cow dung slurry (1:1, cow dung:water w/w) and sowed in different growing media combinations: Sand + Vermicompost (1:1 v/v), Sand + Farmyard manure (1:1 v/v), Sand + Vermicompost + Cocopeat (1:1:1 v/v/v), Sand + Farmyard manure + Cocopeat (1:1:1 v/v/v). The result indicated that GA3 @ 100 ppm was found to be the most effective for better germination parameters, growth parameters and survival percentage of acid lime seedlings. Among the different growing media, Sand + Vermicompost + Cocopeat (1:1:1 v/v/v) recorded higher values for germination parameters, growth parameters and survival percentage of acid lime seedlings. The treatment combination of GA3 @ 100 ppm and Sand + Vermicompost + Cocopeat (1:1:1 v/v/v) showed better germination parameters, growth parameters and survival percentage. In conclusion, the combination of GA3 @ 100 ppm and Sand + Vermicompost + Cocopeat (1:1:1 v/v/v) was found most suitable for better growth of acid lime seedling.