The current experiment was conducted at Dalda Agriculture Research Station (DARS) Gharo, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan during the year 2019. Two Malaysian oil palm varieties (3,way Cross and Yangambi PB 14) were tested against various potting media and container (peat moss in plastic vials, peat moss in polyethylene bags, river sand in polyethylene bags, and river sand in plastic vials) at a pre-nursery stage. Results revealed that the treatment comprised of peat moss in polyethylene bags significantly (P<0.05) increased plant height (36.83 cm), stem diameter (6.9167 cm), number of leaves seedling^-1(4.0 seedling^-1), chlorophyll content (64.0%), leaf N, P, K (2.35, 0.056, 0.96%) contents and uptake (0.198, 0.0047, 0.079 kg seedling^-1) Variety Yangambi PB 14 produced seedlings that were more promising in vigor and plant nutrient contents as compared to variety 3way cross. Vigor of these seedlings was markedly better when raised in polyethylene bags as compared to plastic vials regardless of potting media. Thus, variety Yangambi PB 14 × peat moss in polyethylene bags interaction proved to be an optimum combination as compared to variety 3way cross × river sand in plastic vials. Based on the results, it is therefore, recommended that the landowners of coastal belt of Sindh, Pakistan should be facilitated with all such  facilities related to oil palm cultivation; preferring the oil palm variety Yangambi PB 14. It is further recommended that at pre-nursery stage, the seedlings may be raised in peat moss using polyethylene bags as container.

Keywords: Oil palm, growing medium, river sand, peat moss, plastic vials, polyethylene

bags, pre-nursery stage