An Evaluation of the Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth Performance of Three Timber Species: Cedrella odorata L., Entandrophragma angolensis Welw. and Terminalia superba Diel., in Nursery

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effects of fertilization on the growth performance of Cedrella odorata, Entandrophragma angolensis and Terminalia superba in nursery. Study Design: A complete randomized block design was used. Place and Duration of the Study: Screen house of the Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, from September 2011 to July 2012. Methodology: We used 10 nutrient treatments, nine of which were nutrient combinations and one, a negative control. Urea was added at 75 mg and 112.50 mg while super phosphate simple was added at 30 mg and 60 mg. Poultry manure from broilers was added at 625 g. A total of 180 uniformly growing seedlings were treated with fertilizers two weeks after transplanting. There were six replicates per treatment per species. Information on height (cm), collar diameter (mm), leaf number, leaf area (cm2) and biomass production (g) was collected fortnightly from the day of fertilizer application, for a 120 days period. Results: Cedrella odorata produced maximum seedling height (13.55 cm), leaf number (9.99), leaf area (509.20 cm2) and total biomass (18.47g), Terminalia superba showed maximum collar diameter (4.78 mm) while Entandrophragma angolensis had the least growth performances. Conclusion: Fertilization of seedlings of threatened species in nursery would be necessary, because this will ensure their survival and improve their regeneration following out planting.