Elemental Analysis of Five Major Elements in Six Month Old Seedlings among Twelve Provenances of Tecomella undulata (Smith) Seemann

Tecomella undulata (Smith) Seemann (Rohira, Bignoniaceae) is an agroforestry and ornamental tree of Thar Desert in India. It controls the wind erosion and shifting of sand dunes in arid region and helps to maintain ecological balance by supporting man-cattle-tree interaction. Seeds collected from twelve provenances of Haryana and Rajasthan (India) were sown in polypots at nursery following Randomized Block Design. Roots, stems and leaves from nine randomly selected six months old seedlings of each provenance were taken for analysis of five major elements (N, P, K, Ca, & Mg). Washed and oven dried plant parts were digested using HNO3 and HClO4. Filtered solution was used to analyse Nitrogen by Micro-Kjeldahl method, Phosphorous by Spectrophotometer and Potassium by using Flame Photometer, while Calcium and Magnesium were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique. A significant variation (P < 0.05) was observed in elements for most of the provenances for different plant parts. Nitrogen content varied in roots (0.76-1.89%), stems (1.19-1.88%) and leaves (2.273.99%). Likewise other elements also varied enormously among different provenances. P & K elements were reported less than 1% in roots, stems & leaves of all the provenances while Mg was found less than 1% in roots & stems but more than 1% in leaves due to the reason that Mg is the constituent of chlorophyll in leaves. The biochemical estimation of elements is important in selection of a superior provenance with better food, fodder & survival capacity in adverse conditions of desert. It is suggested to conserve and multiply the superior provenance of Tecomella undulata since it is listed as one of the endangered species.