Following are the propagation media:-
1) Soil, 2) Sand, 3) Leaf mould, 4) Sphagnum moss, 5) Vermiculate, 6) Sawdust, 7) Water, 8) Perlite, 9) Compost, 10) Soil mixture, 11) Cocopeat, 12) Rockwool, 13) Polystyrene foam, 14) Rice hulls, 15) Calcined clays, 16) Bagasse.
1. Soil:-
Soil is composed of material in solid, liquid and gaseous. state for satisfactory plant growth. soil is composed of organic and inorganic forms. The later derived from parent rock after decomposition due to chemical and physical processes of with weathering.
Advantages:-
a) Good performance but slower growth than in inert medium like perlite.
b) High level moisture retention in the medium.
c) Extra weight makes pots more stable.
Disadvantages:-
a) Can be more expensive that perlite.
b) Often difficult to get hold of suitable quality Although growth technology provides suitable additives.
c) Much hard to flush than perlite.
d) Can be heavy when wet.
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2. Sand:-
Consist of small rocks grains 0.05 to 2.0 mm dia, quartz sand is generally used for propagation purpose consisting of chiefly silica complex. The type used in plastering is the grade ordinarily the most satisfactory for roots in cutting e.g cactus.
Advantages:-
a) The land warms up earlier in the spring & maintains a higher temperature than heavy soils.
b) Fertilizers act more quickly.
c) Tillage may begin earlier in the spring & continue later in the fall.
d) The root crops are smoother, better formed & have fewer fibrous roots.
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3. Leaf Moulds:-
It is prepared by placing layers of leaves and soil to which small amount of nitrogenous compound i.e, ammonium sulphate is added. The mixture is watered to maintain decomposition action. The leaf mould compost is ready in about 12-18 months.
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4. Sphagnum Moss:-
Commercial Sphagnum Moss is the dehydrated remains of acid bog plants (Sphagnumpapillosm). This is light sterile and having very high water holding capacity. Being able to absorb 10-20 times its weight of water by cells of stem & leaves. It contains a specific fungistatic substance which account for its ability to inhibit damping off of seedling This sp. moss is generally used for propagation of plants by air layering pH 3.5.
Advantages:-
a) known for its moisture holding capacity.
b) Absorbs 20 times its weight in water.
c) Used by florists to keep plant roots moist.
Disadvantages:-
a) Alternative to sphagnum mosses.
b) Water absorption.
c) Environmental concerns
d) Water absorption.
e) Alternatives to sphagnum moss.
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5. Vermiculite:-
This is micaceous mineral which expands when heated 1092⁰c. Chemically it is hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate.
When expanded, It is very light in weight, neutral in reaction with good buffering properties and insoluble in water. It absorbs water 481.5-641.6 liter/cubic meter.
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6. Sawdust:-
These materials are a byproduct of timber mills. They can be very well used in soil mixture serving much purpose in propagation. Nitrogen is added in sufficient amount for decomposition of sawdust, additional amount of N used by plants.
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7. Peat:-
Peat consists of remains of marsh , aquatic , bog or swamp vegetation. Its composition depends upon vegetation from which it originated, state of decomposition, mineral content and degree of acidity.
Peat can be classified into following different type viz. Mosspeat, reed sedge and peat humus.
i) Moss peat :-
It is commonly called as peat moss. Mosspeat is the least decomposed organic residue which is produced from sphagnum, hypnum or other mosses. Moss peat is acidic and have high water holding capacity.
ii) Reed sedge :-
It contains the remains of grasses, sedges, reeds and other swam vegetation . Reed sedge varies in colour and composition. The colour ranges from reddish brown to black . The pH is 4.0 – 7.5 . It has high moisture holding capacity .
iii) Peat humus :-
Peat humus is decomposed material of sphagnum moss or reed sedge peat . It is brown to black in colour. It has very poor water holding capacity. It must be sterilized before use as it may be a source of weed seeds, insect–pests and pathogens. Among different types of peat, moss peat is the most useful and popular propagation medium for the nursery men, because of the
Following reasons :-
1) Moss peat is a uniform product.
2) It is usually free from weed seeds, diseases and insect pest .
3) It can be easily mixed with other media like sand, sawdust, vermiculite or perlite, etc.
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8. Perlite:-
Perlite is grey-white material produced from the lava flow. It is prepared by heating the glassy lava furnace at the temperature of 760°c. Perlite is a sterile medium with pH of 6.0 to 8.0. perlite can hold water 3-4 time by its weight. It does not contain mineral nutrient but is useful in increasing the aeration. Perlite has also different grades but the grade with the particle size of 1.6-3 mm in diameter is mostly use for nursery work. It is an ideal medium for rooting of cuttings, when used in combination with peat moss.
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9. Compost:-
Compost is a mass of rotted organic matter produced from the waste materials. It is produced by decomposition of organic waste materials like leaves, garden or farm refuses, weed and paddy straw, etc. The mass should be allowed for complete decomposition, which will take about 12-18 months. Compose is a rich source of minerals nutrients besides having good water holding capacity. It can be used as medium by mixing with soil. Different microorganism like fungi, bacteria and nematodes and insects like cutworms, termites and beetles are found in the compost. Therefore the compost should be
sterilized before use.
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10. Soil mixture:-
Different type of soil mixture are use as medium for propagation in the nursery. It is prepared by mixing sand, loam soil and leaf mould in different proportions. The ideal soil mixture should be porous and have good water holding capacity. It is used for seed germination, rooting of cuttings and for growing potted plants.
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11. Cocopeat:-
It is a byproduct of coconut husk. After grinding husk the cocopeat is ready. It is commercially used in the pot cultivation of vegetables in polyhouses. After soaking in water it swells upto 15-18 times more than that of its original weight. It provides good aeration, drainage and nutrients.
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12. Rockwool:-
Rockwool is produced by burning a mixture of coal, basalt, limestone and possibly slog from iron production.
Actual composition of rockwool is 60% basalt , 20% limestone and 20% coke.
Although slightly alkaline, it is not buffered and has negligible CEC
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13. Polystyrene Foam:-
It helps in bringing improved aeration and light weight to root substrate.
It is neutral and thus does not affect root substrate pH levels and highly resistant decomposition.
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14. Rice hulls:-
These are by product of rice milling industry.
It is extremely light weight and very effective in improving drainage.
N depletion is not much serious problem in media amendment with rice hulls.
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15. Calcined Clays:-
Calcined clay is formed by heating monomorrillonitic clay minerals to approximately 6900C .
They have relatively high cation exchange capacity as well as water holding capacity.
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16. Bagasse:-
It is a waste by product of sugar industry to produce a material which can increase the aeration and drainage properties of container media. This decreases the durability and longetivity of bagasse and influences nitrogen levels.
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Definition of Media/Propagating Media:-
The medium used for germination of seeds or rooting of cutting & layers is called the propagations media. Several media and mixtures of different media used in the propagation of plants.
All such media have several properties.
Properties of ideal propagation media:-
1.The medium must be sufficiently firm and dense to hold the seeds or cuttings or layers in right position during seed germination or root formation.
2.Its volume must be fairly constant when wet or dry.
3. It should be sufficiently porous so that the excess water can drain out easily. It also permits adequate aeration.
4. The medium must be free from seed of weeds , nematodes and pathogens which may adversely affect the seed germination or rooting the cuttings.
5. It should be free from high level of salts .
6. The medium should provide adequate amount of nutrients to the seedlings or cuttings.
7. It should have the ability to retain and supply ample amount of moisture to the seeds or cuttings or layers.
8. It must be capable of being pasteurized with chemicals or steam without any harmful effect.
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CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF MEDIA:-
Before use of medium for propagation , certain criteria should be kept in mind . These criteria are as follows :
Always select and use the propagation media from locally available materials .
1) Check the medium before use .
2) The medium should be porous and the pH should be 5-6.5.
3) It should easily mix with other medium .
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