Cymbopogon schoenanthus is a biennial or perennial grass that grows in a dried stony environment, capable of withstanding harsh environmental condition. In this research, the influence of different water frequency on the yield of Cymbopogon schoenanthus was assessed. Plant sample was watered after three days, two days and one-day continuing for an interval of 12 months, But the controlled sample was watered daily. The growth of the grass was evaluated each week, up to the period when the plants were expected to reach vegetative and reproductive phase. The growth parameters estimated are plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, number of seeds, flowers and stem or shoots bearing flowers. The result shows that samples were irrigated daily and yielded more followed by samples irrigated after one day or two days intervals. The yield and productivity of the grass samples examined was higher under conducive environmental condition. The seeds and inflorescent were obtained after four methods of cultivation in the samples which were watered daily. The seeds and flowers were dispersed by wind as the plant produced new seeds. This resulted in decrease in the number of seeds in some of the treatment, leading to less number of seeds in some of the treatments. From the research it shows that the water frequency has the effect on the growth of plant species.
Aims: A pot experiment conducted to assess the effects of organic fertiliser (cow dung) and inorganic fertiliser (urea) on the growth of Deinbolia pinnata Schum. & Thonn seedlings
Study Design: The experimental design was A Complete Randomized Design replicated ten times.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Multipurpose Tree Species Multiplication and Improvement Unit Nursery at Forestry Research Institute Of Nigeria (FRIN) for a period of sixteen weeks
Methodology: The design include 2.5kg of cow dunged tiontilizer application
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Results: It was found out that fertilizer application had a significant effect on all the growth variables at 0.05 probability level. The best performance was recorded in the seedlings raised with cow dung with a mean value in plant height (20.59 cm), a number of leaves (36) and a number of branches (32) while the control has the highest mean value in collar diameter (6.96 mm).respectively.
Conclusion: It is recommended that organic fertilisers should be applied in raising Deinbolia pinnata seedlings. These research advocates for the use of naturally produced fertilisers as products from such is safe for human consumption. this can also reduce the harmful effect of an inorganically produced crop on mankind.
Aims: To investigate the efficacy of various dormancy breaking methods on Sesbania seeds.
Study Design: Complete Randomized Design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates of 100 seeds each for the treatments.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Seed, Crop and Horticultural Science and duration of the study was 2 months.
Methodology: Sesbania seeds were subjected to the following methods; mechanical scarification, soaking in hot water (67°C) for 15 minutes, soaking in concentrated H2SO4 for 15 seconds and leaching. A control experiment where the seeds were not subjected to any treatment was also prepared. The seeds were then set up in Petri dishes up lined with 3 moist filter papers substratum for each method. The Petri dishes were then put in a growth chamber set at a temperature of 24°C and 70% relative humidity. Seeds that germinated every day were noted.
Results: Dormancy breaking methods differed significantly from the control regarding the number of seeds that germinated at P≤0.05. Leaching method (77.8%) hot water (69.5%) Mechanical scarification (62.3%) and acid scarification (64.5%) were higher than for the control (51%).
Conclusion: Leaching was shown to be the best method to alleviate dormancy in the Sesbania seeds. Soaking in hot water, mechanical and acid scarifications also significantly increase germination.
The study was carried out to access the determinants of the quantity of non- timber forest products collected from Block A and Golf course forests of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Samples of one hundred and five respondents were randomly selected and interviewed using well structured interview schedules. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. The study showed that all the respondents involved in the collection of NTFPs were female and native of the area with the average age of 51 years. Majority were not educated, were married with 5-7 household size, 11-20 years of experience and are closer to forest by 2-5 km. The study further revealed that eight types of NTFPs which includes firewood, bamboo, palm kernel, water leaf, pseudocolocynth, gum tree, Oil bean seed and drum tree were collected with the total weight of 12,385 kg. Firewood formed the highest quantity of NTFP collected. There was significant relationship between the quantity of NTFPs collected and the factors that are affecting it. Labour cost, transportation cost and extent of sales were significant at 1%, cost of tools and household size were significant at 5% while years of experience was significant at 5% probability level thus play a crucial role in the quantity of NTFPs collected. The problems militating against the collection of NTFPs were cost of transportation, restricted access to the forest, seasonality and perishability of the NTFPs. Thus, it can be concluded that IITA forest serves as a reservoir of NTFPs which are useful for food, medicine, cooking and wrapping or preservation of food items. The study therefore recommends that studies should be conducted on the domestication and conservation of NTFPs that are useful especially for medicinal purposes and for food to reduce pressure on the forest and ensured continuous supply and availability to the people that needs them
A study was carried out to determine the effects of seed desiccants on seed quality of three very important indigenous forest tree species. The experimental period was December, 2015 to February, 2016. Seeds were collected from the Bobiri Forest Reserve. This Forest Reserve is located in the south-east sub-type of moist semi-deciduous (MSSE) forest in Ghana, covering an area of about 5,445 ha. It is located on the main Accra - Kumasi Highway at the village of Kubease, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Kumasi. Seed desiccation experiment was set up in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three (3) replications. Germination percentage, seed vigour, 1000 seed weight, moisture content, seed health analysis, carbohydrate, protein and oil contents were determined before and after seed desiccation. The study revealed that the Zeolite beads® dried the seeds of Pericopsis elata within 2 days and 3 days for Sterculia rhinopetala but Guarea cedrata seeds were dried within 12 days. This rate of drying was much faster than the rest of the desiccants without any deleterious effect on the physical and chemical properties of seeds. P. elata and S. rhinopetala showed orthodox seed storage behavior by surviving drying to a lower moisture content which can enhance their long term storability. G. cedrata seeds however, exhibited recalcitrant seed behaviour and lost viability significantly after desiccation. G. cedrata seeds unlike P. elata and S. rhinopetala cannot be dried to lower moisture contents and stored for longer period under ambient conditions.
