Vol. 9, Issue 2, Part I (2025)

On farm trails were conducted on walnut propagation using two different types of scion woods for maximum graft take percentage under both polyhouse as well as in open field conditions during the year 2023 & 2024 at different locations viz on farm as well as farmers field. Two different types viz terminal and basal portions were used for grafting at different levels of timings viz 1^st, 2^nd week of February in 2X2 factorial CRBD under polyhouse and repeated at 3^rd week of Feb. and 1^st week of march in 2x 2 factorial RCBD under open field conditions with three replications to standardize portion of scion wood for maximum scion take percentage and feasible timing for walnut propagation in District Ganderbal (J&K). Terminal scion wood in grafting under polyhouse conditions revealed maximum scion take (68.75%) and scion sprouting (63.12%) respectively, whereas type of basal scion wood in grafting recorded scion-take (60.23%), scion sprouting (52.84%) however significantly more than field conditions. Whereas interaction between methods x timings revealed type of terminal scion wood grafting in 2^nd week of February showed maximum scion take (73.19%) and scion sprouting(68.90%) significantly higher than First week of February (64.32%) scion take and (57.34%) scion sprouting under Polyhouse conditions. Graft success under open field conditions at interaction of terminal scion wood x first week of march showed significantly higher scion take(63.78%) and scion sprouting (56.98%) comparatively higher than basal type of scion wood grafting at first week of march recorded minimum scion take (59.67%) and scion sprouting (51.89%). Vegetative growth viz. stem diameter (3.69 mm), No. of leaves (4.31), leaflet size (40.66 cm²), plant height (18.80 cm), were significantly influenced in walnut grafts under polyhouse conditions The results indicate that walnut grafting while using terminal type of scion wood could be economically feasible for vegetative propagation. Wedge Grafting using terminal portion of scion wood performed in 2nd week of February under polyhouse conditions was observed most suitable procedure to propagate walnuts at mass scale under climatic conditions of District Ganderbal. Bud wood taken from selected variety were distributed among progressive walnut nurserymen for successful scion take percentage in second year under front line demonstrations.