EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SOILS ON SEEDLING GROWTH OF CASSIA FISTULA L. UNDER NATURAL FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract

The present study reports the effects of different industrial soils on seedling growth of Cassia fistula L. as compared to control under natural field conditions. Growth variables i.e. seedling length, plant cover, number of leaves, leaf area, seedling fresh weight, total plant dry weight etc were recorded. Seedling length, plant cover, number of leaves, leaf area and seedling fresh weight were significantly (p<0.05) high for Shafi tannery soil as compared to control as well as other polluted soils of industrial site. The soils of Indus battery and Dalda Ltd. showed significantly (p<0.05) reduction in growth of C. fistula as compared to seedlings from other industrial soil as well as Karachi University Campus. The seedlings of C. fistula showed tolerance to Shafi tannery and Pakistan metal industrial soils as compared to seedlings grown in Dalda Ltd. and Indus Battery soils.