NURSERY GROWTH AND BIOMASS OF THE SEEDLINGS OF NINE TREE SPECIES PLANTED UNDER DIFFERENT POTTING MEDIA IN NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA
Keywords:
Biomass, Bulk density, Growth, Potting media, Total porosity.
Abstract
The production of quality seedlings depends on the potting media. A nursery experiment was conducted in Pawe Agricultural Research
Centre, in the northwest part of Ethiopia in 2006. The study was aimed at investigating the impact of different potting media on biomass and growth
and also identifying the properties that influence seedlings’ nursery performance. Four types of potting media, three of them mixed from different
proportions (farm yard manure, forest soil, sand), and the local soil were compared. A factorial experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete
Block Design. ANOVA on growth and biomass data were performed for nine tree species using the GLM procedure of SPSS (Version 13). In most of the
studied species, the seedlings planted in potting media with the un-amended local soil showed significantly highest (p<0.05) shoot height, root collar
diameter, shoot and root biomass. The present results from biomass and growth analyses suggested that physical properties which determine plant
water relations are essential to seedling growth during dry spells of the year, when most nurseries of Ethiopian drylands produce tree seedlings. Under such conditions, potting media calibration should aim at amending physical properties such as total porosity and bulk density. The notion of enhanced seedling growth in substrates of high organic matter content should be carefully considered in nurseries of dry areas.
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References
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Shirani, H., Hajabbasi, M.A., Afyuni, M. and Hemmat, A. (2002). Effects of farmyard manure and tillage systems on soil physical properties and corn yield in central Iran. Soil Till. Res. 68:101-108.
Slatyer, R.O. (1967). Plant-Water Relationships. Academic Press Inc., London.
Stirzaker, R.J., Passioura, J.B. and Wilms, Y. (1996). Soil structure and plant growth: Impact of bulk density and biopores. Plant Soil 185:151-162.
Sultani, M. I., Gill, M.A., Anwar, M. M. and Athar, M. (2007). Evaluation of soil physical properties as influenced by various green manuring legumes and phosphorus fertilization under rain fed conditions. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech. 4: 109-118.
Tesfaye Wubet, Kottke, I., Demel Teketay and Oberwinkler, F. (2003). Mycorrhizal status of indigenous trees in dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia. Forest Ecol. Manag. 179: 387-399.
West, W.P. (2006). Growing Plantation Forests. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg.
Yahya, Z., Husin, A., Talib, J. and Othman, J. (2010). Soil compaction and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) yield in a clay textured soil. Am. J. Agri. Biol. Sci. 5: 15-19.
Zobel, B. and Talbert, J. (1984). Applied Forest Tree Improvement. John Wiley and Sons, Canada.
Bashir, M.A., Ahmad, M. and Anjum, M.A. (2007). Effect of various potting media on growth of rooted jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) cuttings. Int. J. Agr. Biol. 9: 147-151.
Bekele Lemma (2006). Impact of exotic tree plantations on carbon and nutrient dynamics in abandoned farmland soils of southwestern Ethiopia. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Doctoral thesis, Uppsala.
Birge, Z.K.D., Salifu, K.F. and Jacobs, D.F. (2006). Modified exponential nitrogen loading to promote morphological quality and nutrient storage of bare root-cultured Quercus rubra and Quercus alba seedlings. Scand. J. Forest Res. 21: 306-316.
Blake, G.R. and Hartge, K.H. (1986). Bulk density. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods, pp. 363-375 (Klute, A., ed.). 2 nd ed. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, USA.
Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R. (2002).The Nature and Properties of Soils. 3 rd ed. Pearson Education Inc., Upper Saddle, New Jersey.
Dieci, P. and Viezzoli, C. (1992). Resettlement and rural development in Ethiopia: Social and economic, research, training and technical assistance in the Beles Valley, Addis Ababa.
Ewulo, B. S., Ojeniyi, S. O. and Akanni, D.A. (2008). Effect of poultry manure on selected soil physical and chemical properties, growth, yield and nutrient status of tomato. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 3: 612-616.
FAO (2001). Forest genetic resources conservation and management. In: Managed Natural Forests and Protected Areas (in situ). Vol. 2. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome.
Fernandes, C. and Cora, J.E. (2004). Bulk density and relationship air/water of horticultural substrate. Sci. Agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.).61: 446-450.
Goldsmith, W., Silva, M. and Fischenich, C. (2001). Determining optimal degree of soil compaction for balancing mechanical stability and plant growth capacity. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS.
Heiskanen, J. (1993). Favorable water and aeration conditions for growth media used in containerized tree seedling production: A review. Scand. J. Forest Res. 8: 337-358.
Iqobal, M., Hassan, A., Ali, A. and Rizwanullah, M. (2005). Residual effect of tillage and farm manure on some soil physical properties and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Int. J. Agri. Biol. 7: 54-57.
Jeker, R. M. (2009). Business opportunities in Africa for CDM projects and carbon trading. Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies 2: 273-288.
Kaufmann, M., Tobias, S. and Schulin, R. (2010). Comparison of critical limits for crop plant growth based on different indicators for the state of soil compaction. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sc. 173: 573-583.
Khan, M.M., Khan, M.A., Abbas, M., Jaskani, M.J., Ali, M.A. and Abbas, H. (2006). Evaluation of potting media for the production of rough lemon nursery stock. Pak.J. Bot.38: 623-629.
Kumar, A., Sharma, S. and Mishrab, S. (2009). Application of farmyard manure and vermin-compost on vegetative and generative characteristics of Jatropha curcas.J. Phytol. 1: 206-212.
Litynski, J., Klara, S.M., Mcilvried, H.G. and Srivastava, R.D. (2006). An overview of terrestrial sequestration of carbon dioxide, The United States Department of Energy’s Fossil Energy R and D program.
Mangaoang, E.O. and Harrison, S. (2003). Tree planting progress at four community forestry sites in Leyte: Some observations and lessons learned. Ann. Trop. Res. 25: 1-10.
Mhango, J., Akinnifesi, F.K., Mng’omba, S.A. and Sileshi, G. (2008). Effect of growing medium on early growth and survival of Uapaca kirkiana Müell. Arg. seedlings in Malawi. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 7: 2197-2202.
Mosaddeghi, M.R., Hajabbasi, M.A., Hemmat, A. and Afyuni, M. (2000). Soil compatibility as affected by soil moisture content and farmyard manure in central Iran. Soil Till. Res.55: 87-97.
Osaigbovo, A.U., Nwaoguala, C.N.C. and Falodun, J.E. (2010). Evaluation of potting media for the production of pepper fruit (Dennetia tripetala) seedlings. Afr. J. Gen. Agric. 6: 47-51.
Oskarsson, U. (2010). Potting substrate and nursery fertilization regime influence mycorrhization and field performance of Betula pubescens seedlings. Scand. J. Forest Res. 25: 111-117.
Pohjonen, V. and Pukkala, T. (1990). Eucalyptus globulus in Ethiopian forestry. Forest Ecol. Manag. 36: 19-31.
Shirani, H., Hajabbasi, M.A., Afyuni, M. and Hemmat, A. (2002). Effects of farmyard manure and tillage systems on soil physical properties and corn yield in central Iran. Soil Till. Res. 68:101-108.
Slatyer, R.O. (1967). Plant-Water Relationships. Academic Press Inc., London.
Stirzaker, R.J., Passioura, J.B. and Wilms, Y. (1996). Soil structure and plant growth: Impact of bulk density and biopores. Plant Soil 185:151-162.
Sultani, M. I., Gill, M.A., Anwar, M. M. and Athar, M. (2007). Evaluation of soil physical properties as influenced by various green manuring legumes and phosphorus fertilization under rain fed conditions. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech. 4: 109-118.
Tesfaye Wubet, Kottke, I., Demel Teketay and Oberwinkler, F. (2003). Mycorrhizal status of indigenous trees in dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia. Forest Ecol. Manag. 179: 387-399.
West, W.P. (2006). Growing Plantation Forests. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg.
Yahya, Z., Husin, A., Talib, J. and Othman, J. (2010). Soil compaction and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) yield in a clay textured soil. Am. J. Agri. Biol. Sci. 5: 15-19.
Zobel, B. and Talbert, J. (1984). Applied Forest Tree Improvement. John Wiley and Sons, Canada.
Published
2012-09-23
Section
Articles