Growth response of Sysepalum dulcificum seedlings to watering regimes and nitrogen-based fertilizers

Abstract

The experiment was carried to determine the effect of selected nitrogen based fertilizer and watering regimes on the growth variables in Synsepalum dulcificum seedlings. The study was carried out at the Forest Nursery of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Seedlings were subjected to treatments such as Urea, NaNO3 and cow dung as fertilizer source and a control while, watering daily (7/7), every other day (3/7) and weekly (1/7) were the watering frequencies employed and these were laid out in a 3x4 factorial in CRD with 5 replicates in each treatment. Collected data was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using LSD. Obtained results showed that height (12.45 cm), collar diameter (1.42 mm), fresh weight (0.70 g) and total dry weight (0.22 g) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in seedlings raised with cow dung while daily watering enhanced (p<0.05) collar diameter (1.43 mm) and fresh weight (0.63g). Application of cow dung and daily watering showed the best method to enhance the growth rate of Synsepalum dulcificum.

Keywords: Growth rate, watering, fertilizer, Synsepalum dulcificum