Effects of pre-sowing treatments on germination and early seedling growth of <i>Pterocarpus erinaceus</i> poir

Abstract

A study on the effect of different pre-sowing treatments on germination and early seedling growth of P. erinaceus was assessed at the Forest Nursery of the Department of Forestry Technology, Federal College of Forestry, Jos Plateau State Nigeria. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze collected data (Percentages, Analysis of Variance and Duncan Multiple Range Test). The pre-sowing treatments were soaking seeds  in cold water at room temperature for 24 hours (T1), hot water (T2), sulphuric acid (at 98%concentrated) for a minute (T3), sulphuric acid (diluted at 50%) for a minute (T4), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 24 hours (T5), nicking treatment (T6), and no treatment as control (T7). Forty-two seeds were planted (Six seeds for each treatments). Seed germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and stem diameter were assessed from week five to twelve after germination. Seeds with nicking treatment commenced germination after 30 days and achieved 43.3% germination which was significantly different (P < 0.05) from other treatments, especially seed immersed in 95% sulphuric acid, which exhibited lowestgermination of 20% and commenced first germination after 51 days. Results also indicated a significant difference (P < 0.05) in plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and stem diameter and non-significant difference (p>0.05) at 8^th weeks after germination (WAG) (leaf length); 7^th to 9^th, 11^th and 12^th WAG (stem diameter) respectively. Nicking treatment gave the best pre-sowing treatment when compared to other treatments that enhanced seed germination and seedling growth of P. erinaceus. Thus nicking treatment is recommended as the most suitable pre-sowing treatment for enhancing seed germination and early growth of P. erinaceus in the nursery for plantation purposes.

Keywords: Pterocarpus erinaceus, Pre-Sowing Treatment, Germination, Seedling Growth