SEED SCARIFICATION REDUCES SEEDLING SURVIVAL AND TREE GROWTH AND LONGEVITY IN SENEGALIA POLYACANTHA AT A SITE IN CENTRAL ZAMBIA, SOUTHERN AFRICA
Journal Title: Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (MJSA) - Year 2018, Vol 2, Issue 2
Abstract
One of the impediments to artificially regenerating forests is seed dormancy and seed scarification improves germination rate. However, the majority of studies on seed treatment to break dormancy in dry tropical woody species have focussed on the seedling stage and little is known about the effects of seed treatment on saplings and trees. This study, conducted at a permanent site in central Zambia, aimed at determining the effects of seed scarification on seedling emergence and survival and growth and longevity of Senegalia polyacantha, a fast growing and nitrogen-fixing species that is widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seedling emergence from scarified and untreated seeds was monitored and first-year survival assessed. Enrichment planting with nursery transplants and direct sowing of scarified seed was undertaken and the survival and growth of planted and non-planted trees monitored for 17 years. Seed scarification increased seedling emergence but seedling survival was significantly reduced. Planted trees from scarified seeds had lower radial growth (0.22 cm yr-1) compared to non-planted trees (0.56 cm yr-1). Planted trees also had a shorter lifespan than non-planted trees. Seed scarification in S. polyacantha should be applied with caution to avoid significant negative effects on seedling survival and growth and longevity of trees.
Authors and Affiliations
Emmanuel Chidumayo
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP402697
- DOI 10.26480/mjsa.02.2018.19.23
- Views 100
- Downloads 0
A CASE STUDY ON SOIL FERTILITY STATUS AND MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY IN DANG DISTRICT, NEPAL
The study was conducted to know the soil fertility status and maize productivity along with soil management practices being adopted in Lamahi municipality and Rapti rural municipality of Dang district to have a basis for...
MICROBIAL POPULATION CHANGES IN THE RHIZOSPHERE OF TOMATO SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM VARIETIES DURING EARLY GROWTH IN GREENHOUSE
The microbial population changes in the rhizosphere of two varieties of tomato: cherry and plum were studied. They were grown in a greenhouse for five weeks. Standard microbiological procedures were applied. Biochemical...
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER BY SELECTED CASH CROPS IN MALAYSIA
A rapid development in economic sectors has induced the water depletion in most of the developing country, particularly for Malaysia. This study estimates the consumptive water use of cultivating 5 cash crops, i.e. cassa...
Capacity of black soldier fly and house fly larvae in treating the wasted rice in Malaysia.
Rice is the major source of carbohydrate in the world and also the common composition in avoidable food waste. Due to the rich food culture in Malaysia, different pretreated rice waste is generated and the pretreat-compo...
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF AFRICAN GIANT LAND SNAILS (Archachatina marginata) FED WITH FEED FORMULATED WITH DIFFERENT CALCIUM SOURCES
The study was conducted to examine the performance of growing snails (Archachatina marginata) fed with formulated feed supplemented with calcium from four sources (Agricultural Limestone, Bone meal, Egg shell and Snail s...