Optimizing Rooting Media for Enhanced Propagation of Guava (Psidium Guajava L.) Through Stem Cuttings

Abstract

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a significant tropical fruit crop that is primarily propagated through stem cuttings. The success of propagation through stem cuttings largely depends on the rooting medium used. Therefore, optimising the rooting medium is crucial for enhancing the success rate of guava propagation. This study was conducted in the Himalayan foot hill condition in the years 2021 and 2022 at Indian Institute of Soil and water conservation, Selaqui Dehradun, aimed to identify the optimal rooting medium for guava propagation through stem cuttings. The experiment tested three rooting media: sand (S), sawdust (SD), and a combination of the two, sand and sawdust (SSD), using semi-hardwood stem cuttings from guava trees. The study found that the SSD medium had the highest rooting success rate (94.5%), followed by Sand (87.5%) and Saw Dust (70%). The experiment suggests that semi-hardwood stem cuttings of guava roots are best in sawdust and sand, and this finding could contribute to enhancing the propagation of guava through stem cuttings.