Chrysophyllum  albidum is a prominent, indigenous, economic fruit tree species found in compound farm agro-forestry systems . Investigation was conducted to overcome difficulty in germination and storability of C. albidum seeds in the forest nursery of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. The trial employed a 3x3 factorial experiment with three replications laid out in a completely randomized design to determine the effect of seed coat treatments including clipping at 2mm from distal, circumference and micropyle end; dipping in 10% sulphuric acid and no seed coat treatments and durations of seed storage 1, 5 and 9 days on the germination of C. albidum seeds. Pre-sowing and storage treatments significantly (p < 0.05) affected the germination of seeds. Percentage germination ranged from 17% to 61% for clipping to no seed coat treatment. Highest germination of 61% was recorded for seeds not pre-sowed. The percentage germination ranged from 16% to 60% for seeds stored for nine days to those stored for one day. Highest germination of 60% was recorded for seeds stored for one day. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in percentage germination was recorded with increasing days of storage. The result of interaction effect revealed that highest germination of 86% was recorded for seeds stored for 5days without pre-sowing treatments. Storing of seeds for 5days is recommended for mass production of C. albidum seedlings in agro-forestry nursery.

There is paucity of quantified information on the simple, safe and affordable methods of invigorating seeds and storage of recalcitrant seeds. In this light, investigation was conducted in the screen house of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna on the effect of the botanical pelletings and storage periods of C. albidum seeds. A seed pellet is a coating, usually of clay mixed with other inerts, which streamlines the size, shape, and uniformity of a small, non-round seed. A split-plot experimental design with four (4) replications was laid down to assess the effect of botanical pelletings with the leaves of six agro-forestry tree species (Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Albizia lebbeck, Acacia auriculiformis, Parkia biglobosa and Dacryodus edulis) and storage periods (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks) on the germination of C. albidum seeds stored in the refrigerator.  The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA)using SAS (2003)software. The percentage germination of seeds pelletized with G. sepium, L leucocephala, A. lebbeck, A. auriculiformis, P. biglobosa and D. edulis ranged between 18.50%-42.00%, 8.3%-13.60%, 5.2%-18.80%, 3.6% -16.30%, 5.0%-14.30%, and 2.5%-11.10%, for 2-8 weeks respectively. The percentage germination of seeds stored for 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks ranged between 8.50%-21%, 4.70%-24.58%, 9.42%-22.75%, 8.67%-19.58% and 3.33%-8.83% respectively. The percentage germination of seeds pelletized with the leaves of G. sepium, L. leucocephala, A. lebbeck, A. auriculiformis, P. biglobosa and D. edulis and stored for storage periods ranged between 1-65%, 0-30%, 0-30.5%, 1-25%, 0-20% and 0-30%. Botanical pelletings and storage periods significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the germination of C. albidum seeds. Highest germination percentage of 65% was recorded for seeds pelletized with G. sepium leaves and stored for 3 weeks. The research therefore recommends seed pelleting with G. sepium leaves and storage for 3 weeks for mass production of C. albidum seedlings for agro-forestry systems.

In this study, an electrically aerated stove was developed using locally available materials. The performance of the stove was evaluated by utilizing briquettes produced from pyrolyzed jatropha shell and Eucalyptus camadulensis wood shavings. Thermal parameters such as thermal efficiency, power output, specific fuel consumption and burning rate were determined. The mean values obtained for the thermal efficiency, power output, specific fuel consumption and burning rate were 7.62 %, 1685 J/s, 0.2377 g/g, 330.90 g/hr respectively. The performance of the briquette stove was considered to not be suboptimal. The thermal efficiency can further be improved by proper insulation and adequate utilization of the heat generated in the combustion chamber.

Diospyros mespiliformis (Hochst) is a multipurpose, agro-forestry tree species with diverse environmental and ecological significances. However, low percentage germination associated with its seeds has limited its domestication. To overcome this challenge, there is need to adopt cheap, fast, safe, natural and adoptable physiological techniques such as sand priming and hydro-priming. There is paucity of quantified information on natural and safe methods of relieving dormancy as sand priming and hydro-priming. Most of methods of breaking dormancy as use of acid are not simple, safe and adoptable by farmers who practices agro-forestry. In the light of this, these experiments were conducted to assess the periods of sand priming (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks) and hydro-priming (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks) on the germination of D. mespiliformis. Both experiments were laid down in completely randomized design with four replicates. Mean germination times were calculated, and result revealed that a significant increase in percentage germination was recorded with increasing periods of exposing seeds to sand priming up to four weeks. The percentage germination ranged between 28%-93.25% for control (0) and four weeks sand priming respectively. Least value of 8.92 day was recorded for mean germination time of control (0 sand priming). A significant increase in percentage germination was recorded with increasing hours of hydro-priming up to 24 hours. The percentage germination was ranged between 25% - 100% for control (0) hour to 24 hours. Highest germination percentages were recorded in seeds subjected to sand priming for 4weeks (93.25%) and those hydro-primed for 24hours (100%). These results are recommended for mass production of D. mespiliformis in agro-forestry nurseries.

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