EFFECTS OF PLANTING DEPTHS ON EMERGENCE AND GROWTH OF Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench

Abstract

The studies were conducted in a Glass House at Botanical Garden, B. Z. University Multan, Pakistan. Laboratory and field experiments were performed to test the emergence and seedlings morphology of Abelmoschus esculentus seeds buried at varying planting depths. The results revealed that with an increase in planting depth, the percentage emergence of the seedlings decreased markedly. At planting depths; 0, 5 and 10 mm, 100 % emergence occurred while, at 20 and 40 mm depths the percent emergence declined up to 90% and 72%. Planting depth significantly affected the shoot length, fresh and dry weight of shoots in A. esculentus.  The study indicated that deep burial of seeds resulted in retarded seedling growth of the species.