Growth of Cloned Dao (Dracontomelon Dao (L.) Blume) as Affected by Different Mixtures of Potting Media and Levels of Mycorrhizal Inoculant

Abstract

This study was conducted inside the grown-out area of the Clonal Nursery Complex of the GSC Baterna Campus, San Lorenzo, Guimaras in January-February, 2019. This study aims to determine the growth of cloned dao seedlings as affected by different mixtures of potting media and evaluate the growth of cloned dao seedlings as affected by the different levels of mycorrhizal inoculant. A factorial experiment on a Completely Randomized Design (F-CRD) was used in this study. Factor A represented different mixtures of potting media: A1-Negative Control (Pure Garden Soil), A2- Positive Control (Pure Vermicompost), A3-50% garden soil + 50% vermin compost, and A4-75% garden soil + 25% vermicompost. Factor B represented the levels of mycorrhizal inoculant per pot: B1- Control, B2- 14 grams mycorrhiza/pot and B3-28 grams mycorrhizal/pot. There were twelve (12) treatment combinations replicated four (4) times, making a total of forty-eight (48) variates. Each variate had ten (10) cloned dao seedlings as experimental plants. The parameters used in this study were the following: plant height, number of leaves, length of leaves, width of leaves, number of branches, survival rate, and number of days to reach the plantable height (1 foot). Results show that the different mixtures of potting media and different levels of mycorrhizal inoculant have a highly significant effect on the growth of cloned dao seedlings in terms of plant height and number of days to reach the plantable height (1 foot). The researchers recommend using combination of 75% garden soil + 25% vermicompost with 28 grams mycorrhizal/pot which can hasten the number of days to reach the plantable height (1 foot) of dao seedlings.