Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

for air layering. In this method, limbs of 1.2cm or more diameters are girdled by
removing a strip of bark with a width of about 2cm. The girdled area is bound with a
ball of moistened sphagnum moss of about 7 cm diameter and 10-13cm long, which is
then wrapped with polyethylene film and tied loosely over the wrap to prevent bird
damage and also to prevent the moistened moss from overheating. Roots usually start
developing in three to five weeks. When they grow through the ball of moss, the stem
may be detached from the mother plant below the girdled area. The polyethylene film is
removed and the new plant is potted in manured soil in pot/polyethylene bags and kept
in the shade until new leaves appear. When the new growth is about 15-20cm long, the
plant is hardened in full sunlight before transplanting in the field.
Aonla (Emblica officinalis)
Saplings of Guava Ready for Sale in Nursery
Raising of Rootstocks: Aonla is commercially propagated by budding or grafting
on seedling rootstock. Fruits are collected from local aonla trees and used for
rootstock raising. Mature fruits should be collected during January and February. Fruits
are dried in open and seeds are extracted by applying light pressure. The timing for
sowing of seed has been standardized. Seed ar e so w n on raised bed (after soaking in
water for 12 hours) or in poly bag during March-April facilitate quick germination.
Germination of seeds of aonla is better during March-April and July-September.
Patch Budding: Six months to one-year old seedlings are used as rootstock for
budding. The scion shoots should be selected from the mother plants, which are prolific
bearers and free from disease and pest incidence. Patch or Modified Ring Budding
during mid of May to September gives 60 to 90 per cent success under north Indian
conditions. However, in south India, aonla propagation is being done almost 8-10 months
in a year with the aid of greenhouse and net house facilities. Besides budding, veneer
and soft wood grafting are also successfully attempted with about 70 per cent success.
However, considering the efficiency, budding appears to be an ideal method for aonla
propagation.
Propagation of Aonla in polybags/polytubes or in situ orchard establishment
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