GROWTH OF Tamarix aphylla (FARASH) SEEDLINGS AS AFFECTED BY VARIOUS DOSES OF UREA FERTILIZER

Abstract

The growth and development of Farash (Tamarix aphylla) plants at the nursery level was studied as affected by the application of urea fertilizer in 2022. Urea is a widely used nitrogenous fertilizer with a high nitrogen concentration, which is essential for plant growth and development. Tamarix aphylla is a drought-resistant, slow growing species that can be utilized to reclaim desert and saline soils. Tamarix aphylla (Farash) is a xerophytic plant found extensively in Pakistan’s desert rangelands, including Thal & Cholistan. It is used for the fixation of sandy soils in the deserts. Its wood is of good quality and is resistant to insects / pests. It is assumed that the growth rate of desert plants including Tamarix aphylla can be increased by the application of urea fertilizer. However, little research has been carried out to investigate the effect/impact of urea fertilizer on the growth behavior of this important tree in Pakistan. The present study was planned to evaluate the impact of urea fertilizer on the growth behavior of the Tamarix aphylla seedlings. The experiment was conducted under completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. There were five treatments including control. There were 5 plants in each treatment. There were 25 plants in each replication. So, the total number of plants was 75. Urea fertilizer was applied through foliar application and through roots as well to study their effects on plant height, root length, shoot length,number of leaves, number of branches, diameter at root collar, root fresh weight, root dry weight, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, and root shoot ratio as well. Foliar spray of urea significantly promoted all the growth attributes of the plants more as compared to the plants with root application of fertilizer.