Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry

This study examined the effect of potting mixture of poultry manure and horse-dung on the growth of Tamarindus indica L. The experiment was carried out at the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan and lasted for Sixteen (16) weeks. Four weeks old seedlings were transplanted into polythene pots thoroughly mixed with varying levels of poultry manure and horse-dung at 5 g, 7.5 g and 10 g level of application with 2 kg of top soil each. Control plants received no treatments. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized design (CRD) with seven (7) treatments replicated four times each. The following variables were assessed weekly for a period of sixteen weeks: Plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and leaflet number. The data collected was afterwards subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance. The result shows the treatment T₅ which is application of 7.5 g of horse-dung had the best performance with respect to plant height, treatment T₃ which the application of 10 g of poultry manure performed best with respect to number of leaflet. Treatment T₂ which is the application of 7.5 g of poultry manure had the best performance with respect to production of leaves and treatment T₁ which is the application of 5 g of poultry manure performed best with respect to stem girth. Based on the results of this study treatment T₅ (horse-dung at 7.5 g) and treatment T₁ (poultry manure at 5 g) can be recommended for timber production and furniture making if the trait of desire is along that line. Also treatment T₃ (poultry manure at 10g) and treatment T₂ (poultry manure at 7.5 g) can be recommended for medicinal purpose and as food if the trait of desire is along that line.

The main objective of this study was to clarify the best concentration of the indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in order to induce the formation of strong roots of Arbutus pavarii Pamp, an endangered plant in the El-Jabel El-Akhdar region in Libya. A study was carried out to find a protocol for its in vitro propagation. The present paper aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of IBA plant growth regulator on the rooting. Three weeks old seedlings obtained with in vitro germination were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (M&S) roots induction medium supplemented with different concentrations of IBA (0, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg L^-1). The highest response was obtained with the M&S medium half-strength supplemented with IBA 1 mg L^-1 concentration. All the measured growth indicators (rooting percentage, root length and dry weight) significantly enhanced when using this concentration.

In order to test the agronomic performance of the newly developed clones, a Large-Scale Clone Trial (LSCT) comprising Hevea brasiliensis clones GT 1, IRCA 202, IRCA 331, IRCA 707, PB 280 and PB 310 was established in southwestern Côte d'Ivoire. They were planted in completely randomized blocks with six clone treatments and four replications of 112 trees per clone. The measured parameters included isodiametric growth of the trunk, rubber yield, trees stand, latex physiological parameters and sensitivity to tapping panel dryness (TPD). Collected data was analyzed using Statistica 7.0 statistical software. After ten years of downward tapping and four years of upward tapping, clone IRCA 331 showed significantly higher rubber productivity than all other clones. Its productivity gain, relative to the reference control GT 1, was 63% in downward tapping and 80% in upward tapping. Despite its high level of productivity, the annual rate of isodiametric growth of clone IRCA 331 tree trunks (2.56 cm/year) remained statistically equivalent to that of clone GT 1 (2.62 cm/year) at latex harvesting stage. In addition, the physiological profile of clone IRCA 331 was good and similar to that of the control. Clones IRCA 331, GT1 and PB 280 got the lowest sensitivity to TPD. However, only clones GT1 and IRCA 331 maintained a good stand of tappable trees throughout the experimental period. This experiment highlighted the agronomic performance of the clone IRCA331 and allowed to put it in class 1. Clone IRCA 331 can therefore be used as a clone of first choice to improve national productivity.

The study investigated the effect of cassava peel on the growth and development of Gmelina arborea seedlings. The treatment was made up of cassava peel applied to top soil at 1 g, 2 g, 3 g, 4 g, 5 g, 6 g, 7 g, 8 g, 9 g, 10 g. The treatments were replicated three times. The treatments were mixed with 20 kg of soil thereby making a total of thirty three (33). The experiment, which lasted eight weeks, was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) and the following variables were assessed; stem height, stem diameter, leaf length and leaf production. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mean separation was carried out using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The result obtained showed that treatment 6 g gave the best response in term of number of leaves with mean 16.35 while treatment 2 g had the least performance with mean 6.67. The treatment 3 g of cassava peel performed best in terms of leaf length with mean 18.00 while 10 g and 8 g treatments had the lowest stem diameter of 29 cm. With respect to plant height, the treatment of 6 g of cassava peel application had the best response with plant height of 46.67 cm, while the least value of 20.67 cm was recorded in treatment 8 g. Hence, the control (0 g) has significant difference from treatment 8 g. In all the variables assessed, the control showed close values with treatment 8 g, 9 g and 10 g. The result shows a higher level of significant difference to the control at p < 0.05. However, it is recommended that when raising Gmelina arborea where the traits, plant height and leaves are of importance, 6 g of cassava peel is better adapted. Hence, the plant could be raised in the absence of any treatment where appropriate soil is used.

Aims: To identify an appropriate boiled water pre-sowing treatment regime for improved germination, survival and early growth performance of Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev., in three ecological zones of Ghana.

Study Design: The design was a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) in three replicates, where the three different ecological zones were considered as blocks.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Bolgatanga (Guinea Savannah Zone), Abofuor (Forest-Savannah Transitional Zone), and Kumasi-Mesewam (Moist Semi-deciduous Forest Zone) between April 2017 and April 2018.

Methodology: Matured seeds of F. albida were harvested, dried and cleaned. For each treatment replicate, one hundred F. albida seeds were immersed in boiled water (100ºC) for 0, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 300 seconds and then, soaked in water at room temperature for 24 hours. Seeds were then sown in drills on well prepared seed beds, and then observed for germination. Watering was done to keep the soil moist until the onset of germination.

Results: There were significant interactive effects between ecological zones and pre-sowing treatments with respect to Final germination percentage (P<0.001), Germination rates (P<0.001) and Survival percentage (P=0.007). Root length (P=0.040), total plant length (P=0.040) and Number of leaves (P<0.001) also exhibited significant interactive effects due to ecological zones and pre-sowing treatments. Roots were significantly longer in the GSZ than in the more humid ecological zones whereas stems were significantly longer in the MSFZ than in the drier GSZ.

Conclusion: Different durations of F. albida seeds in boiled water had different effects on germination and growth in the different ecological zones.