ISSN: 2578-4994
Authors: Musa MA* and Lamidi K
Adansonia digitata L. is a major multipurpose tree species which has an important economic value not only for food but also medicine and fibre. The study was conducted at Prince Abubakar Audu University Student Research and Demonstration Farm, Anyigba in 2023 cropping season. The study evaluated the influence of growing media on seedling emergence and early seedling growth of Baobab (A. digitata). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments (growth media) each replicated 5 times. The five treatments involved topsoil (TS), poultry manure (PM), rice husk (RH), sawdust (SD) and oil palm bunch residue (OPBR). The treatment combinations were TS (100%), TS + PM + OPBR (2:1:3), TS + PM + OPBR + RH + SD (1:1:1:1:1), TS + PM + RH (2:1:3) and TS + PM + SD (2:1:3). Parameters measure were plant height (cm), number of branches, number of leaves and stem girth (cm). The results revealed a positive influence of nursery media on seedling emergence and growth parameters measured. Earliness to first seedling emergence, highest percent emergence rate and highest emergence index was associated with media TS+PM+RH. Media TS+PM+OPBR+SD+RH had the highest emergence index rate. Media TS + PM + OPBR had the highest mean values for plant height (52.66), number of leaves (59.86), number of branches (16.77) and stem girth (4.56) while the least value was obtained from media TS + PM + RH, with mean value for plant height (24.68), number of leaves (15.00), number of branches (3.91) and stem girth (2.04). Generally, seedling emergence and growth responses suggested that media TS+PM+RH and TS + PM + OPBR were the best.
Keywords: Media; Seedlings; Quality; Germination; Nutrient
