COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH OF TWO AGROFORESTRY TREE SPECIES IN THE NURSERY

Code No: 763640

₦5,000.00

ABSTRACT

The comparative investigation of the germination and early growth of two Agroforstry tree species in the nursery was studied. Seeds of Annona recticulata were collected from a compound in Benin City. while the fruits of Annona muricata were purchased from New Benin Market. On the 6th of June 2012 a portion of land at the nursery of the department of forestry and wildlife faculty of agriculture university of Benin, Benin city Nigeria was cleared. 350 polyethene bags of smallest size that were stocked with white sand already washed was introduced to the cleared site 182 seeds of Annona recticulata was sown into 182 polyethene bags on the 6th June 2012. While on the 7th June 2012 a total number of another 350 polyethene bags of smallest size was introduced to the project site again. Immediately after this the polyethene bags were arranged in sects of 50â€™s and replicated twice in the horizontal and seven times in the vertical. On the 14th of June a total number of 237 seeds of Annona muricata was sown into 183 polyethene bags. So in all a total of 410 seeds were sown.
Germination of Annona recticulata started on the 19th June 2012 which is 13 days interval after it was sown, and germination ended on the 7th of July, out of the 182 seeds of annona recticulata sown, only 9 germinated so it had a germination percentage of 4.95%.
Germination of Annona muricata started on the 13th July 2012 which is 19 days interval from when it was planted, and ended on August 26th a total of 164 seeds germinated as against the total number of 237 seeds that was sown, so the germination percentage was recorded as 69.2%.
Measurement of the stem diameter collar diameter, height, number of leaves, of the seedlings of the two species annona recticulata and annona muricata under the various treatment and replications started on the 13th of August 2012 and ended October 8th 2012. Measurement of these dimension of the developing seedlings for both species were carried out on a weekly basis, thereafter the mean value of the various value for stem diameter, height collar diameter and no leaves for each species annona recticulata and annona muricata was again later documented, in the course of the experiment.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE
1.0INTRODUCTION
A forest is a large wooded area having a thick growth of trees and other plants. The importance of trees and shrubs to man, animal, and the environment are numerous. Trees and other plants of the forest act as filter which cleans the air we breath. Clean air is of great value to human health. Chacolo and Pineae (1991), Smith (1978) and Desanto (1976).
The tern phytoremediation is a word for the absorption of dangerous chemicals and other pollutants that are harmful into less harmful forms, Pollard (1977). They also further sewage farm chemicals reduce road side spills and clean water runoff into streams. Noise pollution is known to be controlled by trees, Chacolo and Pineace (1991). Apart from facilitating climatic modification Muller (1998), trees are source of fuel wood, cline Cole (1990) and shepherd (1990) land scape enhancement, Fortnnann and Riddell (1985) one can derive useful substances from trees such as spice, fibre, medicine which are non-timber species Smith (1992). Trees are sources of timber. They facilitate to some extent food security and improved nutrition, Thannan (1987). The intensity of solar energy radiation that reaches our vicinity is controlled to some extent by trees through solar energy blocking offered by these trees Muller (1988). Apart from all of these trees are also known to produce oxygen, enable wind break, carbon (iv) oxide-sequestering and Green house effect, Go Green (2009).
Agroforestry, compound tree planting protection plantation, aesthetic plantation, production plantation are practices that enhance the raising of tree crops by various people and communities. Agroforestry is a system of land use in which harvestable trees and crops are grown among or around crops or on pasture land as means of preserving or enhancing the productivity of the land. it is defined as a method of farming integrating herbaceous and tree crop.
The system has advantage over Conventional Agriculture and Forest production method. In many ways, for example, it offers increased productivity economic benefits, social outcomes in the ecological goods and services provided.
Biodiversity in Agroforestry Systems is typically higher than conventional Agricultural Systems. With two or more interacting species in a given land area it creates a more complex habitat that can support a wider variety of birds insects and other animals.