Article Sidebar
Published:
Jun 4, 2018Keywords:
large-scale planting establishment potential stem cuttings seedlings performance
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles
Copyright: © 2017 The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism, SUA.
Main Article Content
Establishment potential of Elgon Olive (Olea welwitschii (Knobl.) Gilg & Schellenb) seedlings propagated using stem cuttings and seeds
Abstract
Large-scale planting of Olea welwitschii
has been hampered by availability of
viable seeds. This study compared the
establishment potential of seedlings
propagated using stem cuttings and seeds
based on their morphological quality
characteristics and initial field growth
performance. Five seedlings from each
propagation method were subjected to
destructive sampling for assessment
morphological qualities based on shoot
height, Root Collar Diameter (RCD), root
and shoot fresh and oven-dry weight. Field
experiment was laid out with three
replications in complete randomized block
design with 10 seedlings per replication at
spacing of 3 x 3 m line plots for
assessment of establishment potential
based on height, RCD and survival at
planting and after field establishment.
Results indicated that RCD (p = 0.001),
root fresh weight (p = 0.0036) and root dry
weight (p = 0.0279) of seedlings
propagated from stem cuttings were
significantly higher than those propagated
from seeds. Three months after field
establishment, seedlings propagated from
stem cuttings had significantly (p <
0.0001) higher RCD and higher survival (p
< 0.0001) than seedlings propagated using
seeds. Preliminary results revealed that
seedlings propagated from stem cuttings
established and survived better in the field
than those propagated from seeds. Thus,
large-scale planting of O. welwitschii can
be increased by using seedlings propagated
from stem cuttings although further studies
are required to compare long-term field
performance of seedlings propagated from
stem cutting and that from seeds
has been hampered by availability of
viable seeds. This study compared the
establishment potential of seedlings
propagated using stem cuttings and seeds
based on their morphological quality
characteristics and initial field growth
performance. Five seedlings from each
propagation method were subjected to
destructive sampling for assessment
morphological qualities based on shoot
height, Root Collar Diameter (RCD), root
and shoot fresh and oven-dry weight. Field
experiment was laid out with three
replications in complete randomized block
design with 10 seedlings per replication at
spacing of 3 x 3 m line plots for
assessment of establishment potential
based on height, RCD and survival at
planting and after field establishment.
Results indicated that RCD (p = 0.001),
root fresh weight (p = 0.0036) and root dry
weight (p = 0.0279) of seedlings
propagated from stem cuttings were
significantly higher than those propagated
from seeds. Three months after field
establishment, seedlings propagated from
stem cuttings had significantly (p <
0.0001) higher RCD and higher survival (p
< 0.0001) than seedlings propagated using
seeds. Preliminary results revealed that
seedlings propagated from stem cuttings
established and survived better in the field
than those propagated from seeds. Thus,
large-scale planting of O. welwitschii can
be increased by using seedlings propagated
from stem cuttings although further studies
are required to compare long-term field
performance of seedlings propagated from
stem cutting and that from seeds
