Comparative effect of different potting media on the early growth of entandophragma angolense
Abstract:The study investigated
the effects of different potting media on the early growth of Entandophragma angolense with the view to
producing viable and vigorous planting stock of the species for plantation
establishment. The layout comprised of nine treatments of potting media
prepared from forest topsoil, river, Sand, cow-dung, and poultry manure in
varying ratios. The treatment was replicated nine times in Completely
Randomized Design (CRD). Height, stem diameter, leaf production was assessed
fortnightly for six weeks. The results showed that there were significant
differences (p<0.05) among the treatment in shoot height, stem diameter, leaf
production, and biomass yield. Treatment 3 (T3) gave the best result in terms
of shoot height, 26.89cm, stem diameter, 3.20mm, while Treatment 7 (T7) had the
highest leaf production 27.52, and Treatment 6 (T6) had the highest biomass production
of 5.52g. However, Treatment 8 (T8) gave the minimum results of mean height, 9.12cm,
stem diameter 0.19mm, leaf production, 5.69, and biomass production of 1.01g.
The study, therefore, showed that the incorporation of an optimum level of
organic manure into the potting media resulted in the growth improvement of Entandophragma
angolense seedlings