EFFECTS OF ROOTBALL MOISTURE-CONTENT AT THE TIME OF TRANSPLANTING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND UNIFORM GROWTH OF CABBAGE PLUG SEEDLINGS

Cabbage seedlings were raised in plug trays and transplanted to the fi eld to test the effects of rootball moisture content at the time of tr ansplanting on their establishment and growth. 1. The establishment of seedlings were hastened by maintaining a high rootball moisture conte nt which accelerated rooting and prevented wilting. 2. Rooting, shoot water potential and primary growth of seedlings after transplanting we re improved by making of the rootball uniformly moist. 3. The moisture content of the rootballs was raised and made uniform in the tray by s ubirrigation. Thus, we conclude that a fast and uniform establishment of cabbage plug seedlings can be obtained by subirrigation before tran splantation.