Seedling Growth of Tectona grandis using Different Potting Mixture

Aims: This study evaluated the influence of 11 potting media compositions on seedling growth and development of Tectona grandis.

Study Design: The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design involving ten replicates.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management Nursery, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, between April 2019 and April 2020.

Methodology: Ten (10) seedlings per sowing media including topsoil, topsoil and cow dung (2:1, 3:1), topsoil and poultry dung (2:1, 3:1), topsoil and pig dung (2.1, 3:1), topsoil and sawdust (2.1, 3:1), topsoil and mushroom substrate (2.1, 3:1) were selected and transplanted into polybags. Growth parameters (seedling height, root collar diameter, leaf number and biomass (shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW) and total dry weight (TDW)) were determined and subjected to analysis of variance.

Results: Seedlings of T. grandis displayed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in height, root collar diameter, leaf number and biomass. Among treatments, tallest seedlings were observed in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (3:1), at months 1 to 3 and in mixture of topsoil and cow dung (3:1) at months 4 and 5, highest root collar diameter was observed in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (3:1) and highest leaf number was recorded in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (2:1 and 3:1) and topsoil and cow dung (2:1 and 3:1) at months 1 to 5. The highest SDW was evident in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (2:1) while highest RDW and TDW were observed in mixture of topsoil and cow dung (3:1). Lowest height, diameter, leaf number and biomass were recorded in topsoil (control) at months 1 to 5.

Conclusion: The results revealed that among the tested mixtures, topsoil and poultry dung and topsoil and cow dung mixtures were the best for seedlings growth of T. grandis.