Abstract
In order to improve the devices enabling year-round propagation of cuttings in arid lands, a device equipped with mist nozzles in a tunnel enclosed by a non-woven fabric was developed on an experimental basis for preserving the cuttings. Changes in the air temperature and relative humidity, and rooting conditions of the cuttings subjected to this treatment were compared with other enclosure devices and a control.
The results were as follows :
1. The use of enclosure and enclosure-mist devices was effective for the preservation of cuttings in arid lands.
2. When the inner part of the enclosure was maintained under high humidity conditions, the cuttings were able to survive at a high temperature (35-40°C) for a long period of time.
3. Although the cuttings were exposed to a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions in the day time, when a high humidity was maintained during the night, the survival and rooting percentage of the cuttings were not affected.
4. Temperature decreased by more than 5°C by mist spraying for 1 min and was maintained for about 40 min.
It was concluded that enclosure-mist devices are suitable for the propagation of cuttings in mid summer in arid lands. However, further studies should be carried out on the effect of the structure and thickness of the nonwoven fabric, size of mist particles, and frequency of mist spraying on the maintenance of stable temperature and himidity conditions in the enclosure-mist devices.
