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This study examines the effect of sowing media and sowing depth on the germination and growth of Lecanodiscus cupanoides (Planch.Ex Benth). The germination of L. cupanoides seed was significantly affected by sowing depth and sowing medium at p=0.05. The result of various sowing media and sowing depth showed that the seed sown at 2 cm and 5 cm depths had the highest germination percentage of 52% each. This was followed by surface sowing with 49.3% and the least germination was found at 7 cm depth. Also, the highest germination was also recorded in sawdust with 50 % germination followed by those planted in topsoil with 44%. Least germination percentage was recorded in river sand (41%). Lecanodiscus cupanoides seedling height was significantly affected by sowing depth and sowing medium. The highest plant height was recorded in seeds sown at 5 cm depth (9.6 cm) while the least height was recorded in Sawdust with 8.6 cm.Shoot height was highest in humus rich top soil with 9.9 cm followed by river sand with 9.2 cm. The least shoot height was found in sawdust with 8.6 cm. Other parameters are mean leaf production and collar diameter. The highest leaf production was found in seeds sown in river sand at 2 cm depth with mean values of 10.5 and 11.0 respectively. The highest collar diameter was in humus rich top soil and river sand with value 2.6 mm. Observations from the study shows that to propagate L.cupanoides on large scale, it is better to sow at the depth of 5 cm and in sawdust for its germination.Keywords: Lecanodiscus cupanoides, sowing depth, sowing media, seedling growth and germination

This experiment was conducted on the Bombax buonopozense plantation at the arboretum of the Forestry Institute of Nigeria during the wet planting season of year 2014. There were three treatments viz: maize planted within rows of trees under non pruned bombax trees, pruned bombax trees and the control which was an open space with no tree. Data were collected on the height, vigour score, leaf production and shoot dry matter of the maize planted in the different treatments from 3 to 12 weeks after planting. The data were subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means separated by Duncan Multiple range tests. It was observed from this study that there were significant differences in the height, crop vigour score, stem diameter, leaf production and shoot dry matter. Maize plants under control performed better than the maize plants under non-pruned and pruned trees but the growth of the maize plants from the three treatments are comparable. This study revealed that maize can be planted in a 5 years old bombax plantation. Farmers interested in timber production can plant trees alongside with their and apply pruning techniques to increase the duration of crop production.Keywords: Agroforestry, pruning, annual crop production, timber, light interception

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