Effects Of Different Sowing Media On Germination And Early Seedling Growth Of Terminaliaivorensis (A.Chev.)

摘要

ABSTRACT: Terminaliaivorensis A. Chev.is an important tropical timber species, but poor germination and inadequate silvicultural information are important factors militating against its regeneration.A study on the effects of four sowing media on germination and early seedling growth of T. ivorensis was assessed at the Forest Nursery of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The experiment was arranged in a completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates. Viable seeds were sown into germination trays filled with four sowing media (Topsoil, sawdust, fine sand and coarse sand). Fifty seeds were sown into each germination tray. Data were collected on germination percentage and early seedling growth parameters involving seedling height, collar diameter and monthly leaf production. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data collected. Means separation were carried out using the Least Significant Difference (LSD). The result revealed that germination percentage was significant at 5% level of probability. The highest germination percentage was recorded for treatment B (sawdust) which had 50.67?17.90% while treatments A (topsoil) and D (coarse sand) had 35.33?9.62% and 30?13.99 respectively. The least was treatment C (fine sand) which had 22?10.84%. There was significant difference at 5% level of probability in seedling height and collar diameter but was not significant in leaf production. The highest mean height was recorded in treatment A (topsoil) which has 16.13?0.80. Treatments B (sawdust), D (coarse sand), C (fine sand) had 14.02?0.37, 7.75?0.47 and 6.79?0.99 respectively. The result showed that the highest diameter growth was recorded for treatment A (topsoil) which has 4.13?0.53. Treatments D (coarse sand), B (sawdust) and C (fine sand) had 3.67?0.57, 3.47?0.48 and 3.43?0.52 respectively. Leaf production in T. ivorensiswas not significant between the treatments. The study has shown that the germination percentage ofT. ivorensis improved significantly with sowing media especially sawdust and topsoil. The use of sawdust and topsoil as sowing media for small and large scale propagation of the species is recommended.