Effect of potting mixture and watering on early growth of <i>Acacia seyal</i> del. and <i>Acacia sieberiana</i> D.C. in a semi-arid environment of Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted at the Botanical Garden of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to determine the effect of potting mixture and watering regime on early growth of Acacia seyal and A. sieberiana. Three different potting media [Sand only (SO), Sand + Goat manure (SGM) and Sand + Cowdung (SCD)] and two watering regimes (once and twice daily) were applied as treatments. The growth parameters measured were collar diameter (CD), height (HT) and number of leaves (NL). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatment replicates. At 12 weeks after germination (WAG), SO was found to induce higher (P<0.05) height growth (40.73cm) than SGM (34.9cm) and SCD (29cm), but SGM gave the highest CD (3.84mm) and NL (55) for A. sieberiana. SO at 12WAG for A. seyal gave higher (P<0.05) CD (4.4mm) and HT (37.57cm), but lower NL (65). The 65 and 67 NL induced by SO and SGM respectively were the same, but higher (P<0.05) than 32 induced by SCD. Watering twice daily gave mean values of 4.27 and 3.97mm CD, 38.38 and 40.93cm HT and 75 and 67 NL for A. seyal and A. sieberiana at 12WAG in the same order, and these values were higher (P<0.05) than those for watering once daily. Mixture of sand and goat manure and watering twice daily would enhance early growth of the A. seyel and A. sieberiana.