Effect of acid pre-treatment and potting media on seed germination and early seedling growth of Albizia Lebbek

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the effect of acid pre-treatment and potting media on seed germination and early seedling growth of Albizia Lebbek. One hundred (100) seeds of Albizia lebbeck were respectively soaked in tetra-oxo-sulphate (vi) acid at 98% concentration for 2mins, 80% concentration for 5mins and 60% concentration for 8mins. After soaking, the seeds were removed, washed and rinsed in running tap water to remove the acid. The treated and the untreated seeds (control) were sown in a bowl previously filled with top soil and watered for germination to take place. Number of seeds germinated per day was monitored and recorded for each treatment. For early growth experiment, seedlings with relatively uniform height were selected from all the treatments and were transplanted into polythene pots filled with different soil media (top soil, river sand and sawdust). Growth parameters viz; (heights, stem diameter, number of leaves, and length of leaves,) were measured over a period of 12 weeks. The results on germination showed that 97, 91, 81 seeds germinated for 98%, 80%, 60% acid concentration respectively on the 5th day of sowing while 27 seeds germinated for control on the 6th day of sowing. Effect of the different sowing media on seedling growth parameters showed that seedlings grown in topsoil has the highest mean values of growth performance, while the least values were obtained for the seedlings grown in sawdust. It was recommended that top soil should be used by tree growers for production of quality seedlings of Albizia lebbeck.

Assessment of Early Growth Response of Albizia lebbeck to Different Seed Sources, Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers in the Nursery

“…It is a leguminous and deciduous tree species of 15 -30m tall and a diameter between 50cm t o1m [Danida Forest Seed Centre (DFSC, 2000)]. The tree has large and bipinnate, leaves 7.5-15cm long, with one or four pairs of pinnae 2.5-3.5cm long and fragrant cluster of green-yellow flowers and long seed pods (Olujobi 2022). The species can grows in a wide range of climates with a mean annual rainfall of 1300-1500 mm and a very dry winter.…”