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The effects of pre-germination treatments and soil media on seed germination and seedling growth of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica (Linn) in Katsina State, Nigeria


N A Oyebamji
A A Ogor
G Y Jamala

Abstract

Astudy was conducted to investigate the
effects of pre-germination treatments and
soil media on seed germination and
seedling growth of Tamarind (Tamarindus
indica) in Katsina State, Nigeria.
Germination was monitored in the Nursery
Section of the Federal University Dutsin-
Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria. The experiment
was laid in a Completely Randomized
Design with four replications. Seedling
height (SH), stem diameter (SD) and
number of branches (NB) were measured
at two week intervals and analyzed using
Analysis of Variance. Means were
separated using Least Significant
Difference (LSD P≤0.05). Mechanically
scarified seeds (MS), sown in top soil (S1)
(S1MS) and seeds treated with 60 %
concentrated Tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid
(H2SO4) for 10 minutes (A10) and sown in
S1 (S1A10), MS sown in S2 (S2MS), seeds
treated with A10 and sown in S2 (S2A10),
MS sown in top soil plus river sand plus
manure (S3) (S3MS) and seeds treated with
A10 and sown in S3 (S3A10) germinated in
first five days after sowing (DAS) while
those in the control germinated after nine
days. Treatment with A10 resulted in 100 %
germination while MS resulted in 97.5 %
germination. MS and seeds soaked in
H2SO4 for five (5) minutes (A5) had higher
SH values of 8.30 cm and 30.81 cm
respectively and NB values of 2.92. A10
and MS had SD values of 3.20 cm and 3.20
cm respectively. It is concluded that seeds
treated with H2SO4 for 10 minutes and MS
at the micropyle are the best pregermination
treatment for breaking T.
indica seeds and recommended for seed
sowers so in order to achieve regeneration
that can meet various needs of man.

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eISSN: 2408-8137
print ISSN: 2408-8129