Field Based Seed Germination Technologies for Domestication of Chiraito (Swertia chirayita) in Nepal

Abstract

On-station and on-farm multi-location experiments were conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Pakhribas and its outreach sites on the high value wild medicinal herb Chiraito (Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten in order to develop seed germination technologies for the hill regions of Nepal. Germination researches were conducted at 4 sites located at 1800-2200 m above mean sea level for 3 years under various growing environments: treating with acid, warm and normal water, mixing with dung slurry and moist soil under nursery, cultivated and virgin land, and meadow and terrace riser conditions. Minute seeds of Chiraito 1g m-2 after treatment were mixed into 1 tea glass of sand/soil and sown/broadcast on nursery bed. Five experiments were laid out in randomized complete block and one in Latin square design with 3 to 6 treatments and 2 to 5 replicates. Plot size was 1m x 1m for each treatment. Germination started after 2 weeks, and proceeded very slowly (continued upto 2-3 months to germinate most seeds). Growth of seedlings was also slow and took 4-5 months (May-August) to reach transplantable 6-8 leaved stage. Varied numbers of emerged seedlings: 250-2000 (grand mean 850) in 1 square meter bed were counted from different trials/ treatments based on locations. Germination achieved higher by soaking seed with water for 24 hours. Improved nursery raising techniques, growing media, cultural practices and direct seeding were tested, verified and found recommendable to the growers for the first time at Agricultural Research Station Pakhribas.