Comparative Effect of Decomposed Organic Matter on Seedling Growth of Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (Fabaceae)

Abstract

African kino tree (Pterocarpus erinaceus) plants are widely used species in afforestation programs but germination of seed and rate of seedling growth are major drawback. This study was therefore carried out to compare the effect of decomposed organic matter on the seedling growth rate of Pterocarpus erinaceus. The experiment was conducted in the screen house of Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria for a period of six months. Seedlings of P. erinaceus were subjected to four treatments. Decomposed kitchen waste (KW), decomposed fruit waste (FrW), decomposed fish waste (FW) and decomposed White leadtree (Leucaena leucocephala (LL)) leaves and control (CN). The experiment was laid out using a Completely Randomized Design. Each treatment was replicated seven times. Results showed that there was significant difference (P≤0.05) among the height of P. erinaceus seedlings subjected to different fertilizer applications. The mean seedlings height ranged from 11.55 to 18.34 cm with the highest mean height from seedlings subjected to LL while seedlings without fertilizer application had the least mean height. There was no significant difference (P≤0.05) among the collar diameter of P. erinaceus seedlings subjected to different fertilizer applications. The mean seedlings collar diameter ranged from 1.27 to 1.94 mm with the highest mean collar diameter from seedlings subjected to FW while seedlings without fertilizer application (CN) had the least mean collar diameter. Results also indicated no significant difference (P≤0.05) among the number of leaves of P. erinaceus seedlings subjected to different fertilizer applications. The mean seedlings number of leaves ranged from 12 to 16 with the highest mean number of leaves from seedlings subjected to LL, KW and FW while seedlings without fertilizer application had the least mean number of leaves. It is recommended that application of decomposed organic matter for proper growth of Pterocarpus erinaceus seedlings should be encouraged and properly disseminated to farmers.