Journal of Horticulture
Open Access

Abstract

The Effects of Seed Pretreatment on Seed Germination and Bio-Char Soil Mixture on Early Survival of Seedlings of Faidherbia albida (Del) Chev in Nursery

Miftah Fekadu*

Appropriate pretreatment of seed and soil mixture of nursery are required for proper seed germination and seedlings growth, respectively. Faidherbia albida (Del) Chev (syn. Acacia albida [Del.]) is a useful tree species that improve soil fertility, and supply dry season livestock fodder in some climatic zones of Africa. However, it is difficult to grow F. albida in clay soils and methods to improve the cultivation conditions are highly required. Although bio-char can be a potential ingredient of nursery soil mixture in deforested areas, information is lacking about its effect in clay soil nursery sites. Seeds of F. albida are also difficult to germinate in short period of time. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of nicking, and warm and cold water stratification seed pretreatments on improving the seeds germination. Then different proportional ratios of bio-chars of saw dust, chat (Catha edulis Forsk) leaves and coffee (Coffea arabica L) husks pyrolysed at 300 and 350°C temperature were mixed with local soil, and compost to grow transplanted seedlings in the first year of eight months and then continued to second year totally 20 months old. Among the presowing seed treatment, stratification resulted in greatest number of germination of the seeds, about 76%. The effect of the soil mixtures on the Root Collar Diameter (RCD) growth was greater than the corresponding stem height growth. The greatest RCD and height growth was obtained from local soil, about 0.84 cm, and 28 cm, respectively. The minimum growth of RCD was obtained in soil mixtures of local soil, compost and biochar of sawdust 350°C. However, 25% bio-char of saw dust 300°C showed maximum RCD growth in eight months. In the first year, although, the soil mixture that contained only local soil was the best in increasing the growth of RCD and height of seedlings, it was the least in the number of seedlings survived. In 20 months, the highest survival about 94%, root collar diameter of 0.88 cm and height of 30.85 cm was obtained from the mixture of local soil and bio-char of sawdust 300°C in the ratio of 03:01, while the least survival and growth was obtained from unmixed local soil. Soil mixtures that contained bio-char in all cases improved the survival of seedlings. Therefore, seedling growing in clay loam soils should include bio-char pyrolysed at appropriate temperature for better survival of seedlings of F. albida.

Published Date: 2021-12-27; Received Date: 2021-12-04