Effect of media on growth and development of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) seedling with or without Azotobacter

This present investigation was carried out at the Fruits Research Farm, College of Horticulture and Forestry Jhalarapatan, Jhalawar during the year 2010. In this experiment, freshly extracted acid lime seeds were sown into different media with or with out Azotobacter to study their effect on growth and development acid lime seedlings. The results indicated that the medium combination soil + sand + vermicompost + vermiculite + cocopeat (1:1:1:1:1) with Azotobacter had given significantly better result among different combinations. Under this treatment, the height of seedling (13.75 cm), number of leaves per seedling (22.46), diameter of stem (3.35 mm), fresh weight (2.77 g) and dry weight of seedling (1.18 g) were recorded significantly superior over other treatments used. Further it was also found superior with relation to length of longest tap root (19.76 cm), diameter of tap root (2.95 mm), number of secondary roots (40.66), root/shoot ratio (2.57), nitrogen content in leaf (1.86%), chlorophyll content in leaf (5.44 mg/g) and leaf area of seedlings (1.43 cm2).   Key words: Azotobater, media, acid lime seedling, vermicompost.