EFFECT OF DIFFERENT AGES ON THE CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION POTENTIALS OF TRECULIA AFRICANA DECNE. EX TRÉCUL SEEDLINGS

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions instigate global warming as trees effectively play significant roles in sequestrating the CO₂ towards climate change mitigation. This study therefore investigated CO₂ sequestration potentials of Treculia africana at different seedling ages with a view to establishing climate mitigation ability of tree seedlings at nursery stage. Extracted Seeds of T. africana were sown and germinated seedlings were pricked into polythene pots filled with topsoil. One hundred uniform seedlings were selected for weekly growth variables and biomass assessment. Assessment of shoot height (cm), collar diameter (cm), leaf number, leaf area (cm2) and determination of total dry weight (TDW) were carried out. The carbon content, CO₂ weight, net assimilation rate (NAR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were thereafter estimated. . The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis. There were significant differences (P<0.05) among ages of tree seedlings in all growth variables assessed within period of study.