Response of Litchi cultivars to rooting through air layering in different growth media

An experiment on 'Response of Litchi cultivars to rooting through air layering in different growth media" was conducted at Fruit Nursery farm Jabban Dargai, Malakand during 2014. Air layering was done in June on different varieties (Surriya and Golla) in different media (sawdust, silt, garden soil and sawdust +silt +garden soil). The experiment was laid out on a randomized complete block design having three replications. The research revealed significantly different results for days to rooting, number of roots per plant, root length, root diameter and percent survival among the varieties. Similarly different growth media also significantly affected most of the parameters studied. Maximum number of roots (9.5), root length (3.35cm), root diameter (0.15cm), percent survival (79.17 %) and minimum days to appearance (25) were recorded for cultivar Surriya (28), while the maximum number of roots (11.17), root length (3.61 cm), root diameter (0.17 cm) and percent survival (83.33%), and minimum days to appearance (23) were recorded in silt. On the basis of these results variety Surriya and Silt as a rooting medium were found the best and hence recommended for rooting of Litchi varieties through air layering.