Growth Performance of Crescentia cujete (Robx) Seedlings as Influenced by Different Watering Regimes

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of different watering regimes on the growth of Crescentia cujete. The seedlings were subjected to six different watering regimes which include: W1 – control   (watering everyday), W2 – watering once every two days, W3 – watering once every three days, W4 – watering once every four days, W5 – watering once every five days and W6 – watering once every six days; each treatment replicated six times. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The study was carried out at the Central Nursery of Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan. Growth parameters assessed include: plant height (cm), collar diameter (mm), leaf production and the biomass accumulation which was sectioned into leaf, stem and the root. The data collected were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means separation was done using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. The results showed that there were significant differences among the treatments in plant height and number of leaves produced while there was no significant difference in the collar diameter. However, seedlings watered once every 5 days (W5) performed best in height (20.48 cm) and leaf production (18.42). It was revealed that there were significant differences in the leaf and stem dry weights among the treatments with W5 having the highest weight while there were no significant differences in the root dry weight. Crescentia cujete optimized water shortage for its growth.