EFFECT OF PROPAGATION MEDIA ON ROOTING IN POMEGRANATE AIR LAYERING CV BHAGWA

The present investigation was conducted at Instructional cum Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during the rainy season 2024-25. The experiment was conducted on two years old mother orchard having uniform vigor and size. Healthy and pencil thicknesses branches were used for air layering. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with seven treatments and replicated thrice. Four types of rooting media viz., sphagnum moss, cocopeat, leaf mould and coir pith were used alone and their combinations were prepared according to the treatment plan on a volumeto-volume basis to perform air layering. The treatment includes T1 Sphagnum moss (100 %) (Control), T2 Cocopeat (100 %), T3 Sphagnum moss + Cocopeat (2:1), T4 Sphagnum moss + Cocopeat (1:1), T5 Sphagnum moss + Leaf Mould (1:1), T6 Cocopeat + Leaf Mould (1:1) and T7 Sphagnum moss + Coir Pith (1:1). The experimental findings revealed that the use of different propagation media had a significant effect on rooting of pomegranate air layers. The treatment combination Sphagnum Moss + Cocopeat (2:1) proved to be the most effective among all treatments. It showed the earliest visible root initiation (19.67 days), faster bulk root formation (36.00 days) and early transplanting time (45.33 days). It also recorded a high percentage of rooted layers (96.34%) and dense rooting. The control treatment T1 (Sphagnum moss 100 %) showed the better rooting percentage (88.20 %) and high root density. Therefore, it is concluded that among all the treatments, Sphagnum Moss + Cocopeat (2:1) was most effective, ensuring early root initiation, faster bulk root formation, early transplanting and highest rooting percentage (96.34%). The control (Sphagnum moss alone) also performed well with 88.20% rooting.