Germination and Seedling Growth Response on Lithocarpus elegans (Fagaceae) Seeds to Pre-sowing Treatments and Fertilizer Application

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different pre-sowing treatments of seeds on germination and growth performance of native threatened tree species Lithocarpus elegans at the nursery of Chittagong University, Bangladesh. Seeds were placed to eight pre-sowing treatments e.g. control (PT0), treated with sand paper rubbing (PT1), nicking (PT2), seeds immersed in cold water for 24 hours (PT3), seeds immersed in cold water for 48 hours (PT4) and seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days (PT5), seeds sown at propagator house (PT6), seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days and then sown at propagator house (PT7). Germination percentage was found highest (100%) in seeds sown at propagator house (PT6) followed by seeds immersion in cold water for 24 hours (PT3) (91.11%). For fertilizer dose experiment to seedlings at the nursery level, treatment FT1: 100 kg/ha (0.33679 g urea/pot/seedling) comparing with other treatments FT0: 0 kg/ha (Control), FT2:  200 kg/ha (0.67358 g urea/pot/seedling) showed better performance in case of shoot length, collar diameter, number of leaves, shoot fresh weight, total fresh weight, total dry weight, volume index.  Finally, it can be concluded that Lithocarpus elegans seedlings revealed better performances under the seed pre-treatment PT6 (seeds sown at propagator house) and fertilizer dose FT1 (100 kg N ha-1) in growth and biomass production.