A NOTE ON THE APPRAISAL OF CAUSES OF MORTALITY OF SHISHAM AND MULBERRY SEEDLINGS IN THE NURSERY FROM THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOIL
Abdul Aziz Khan and M. N. Malik, Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar
Samples of irrigation water and soil from the nursery beds were analysed for ascertaining the causes of high rate of mortality of Morus spp. and Dalbergia sissoo seedlings in Kalar Kahar Forest nursery. Jehlum Forest Division. The water had permissible limits of soluble salt content. The soil was however, distinctly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 8.8). Presence of unusual high content of lime was suspected to be responsible for causing deficiency of P and other available nutrients. Applications of ammonium sulphate and superphosphate are suggested to improve soil reactions and availability of common plant nutrients.
Mulberry (Morus spp). and Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) plants are well acclimatized to the climatic and edaphic conditions generally prevailing in the plains of West Pakistan, where they normally exhibit vigorous growth and, comparatively, do not require much care after germination.