Effect of potting media on the early seedlings growth of <i>Treculia africana</i> decne

Abstract

Potting media are important factors to the growth and development of plants. Some plants due to some morphological or physiological adjustments do not attain the necessary seedling growth level expected. This study examined the influence of potting media on the early growth of Treculia africana seedlings. The seedlings were subjected to three different treatments/potting mixtures namely: mycorrhizal soil, top soil and mycorrhizal soil mixed. Each treatment was replicated five times and laid in a Completely Randomized Design. The growth variables measured weekly include; plant height (cm), collar diameter (cm), leaf production and leaf surface area (cm2). The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant means were separated using Duncan multiple range test at 5% probability level. Results revealed that there were significance differences in the growth performance of Treculia africana in all the variables assessed. Seedlings grown in mycorrhizal mixed with top soil gave the best performance in collar diameter (0.199 cm), leaf number (4), leaf surface area (10.29 cm2) and those grown in mycorrhizal soil gave the best performance in height (14.58 cm). The seedlings grown in top soil recorded the least performance in all the growth variables assessed. The study therefore recommended raising Treculia africana seedlings in the mixture of mycorrhizal and top soil for enhanced early growth as well as massive nursery production.

Keywords: Potting media, Treculia africana Decne, mycorrhizal, seedling growth, collar diameter