Effect of growth regulators and soil media on the propagation of Voacanga africana stem cuttings

Abstract

In Ghana, riverine forests (riparian buffers) have been seriously degraded resulting in drying up of several rivers, which supply water to certain communities, especially in the rural areas. Restoration of these degraded lands is mostly done using exotic tree species which have the tendency to colonize and dominate indigenous tree species and eventually lead to loss of biodiversity. This research therefore examines the propagation of Voacanga africana tree species which could be used to protect water bodies and restore biodiversity loss. An experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources lath house in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The objective was to test the efficiency of different growth media and hormones to improve rooting. The experiment consisted of three wood types of V. africana (hardwood, semi-hardwood and softwood), raised in three soil types (topsoil, sand and mixture of topsoil and sand) and treated with three growth hormones [Indobutyric acid (IBA), IBA + Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and Control]. The results showed that, hardwood and semi-hardwood cuttings of V. africana performed better in terms of sprouting and rooting. Dip‘N’grow (an IBA/NAA premix) was the best among the growth hormones. Seradix ‘3’ powder (NAA) was also consistent. Among the growing media, materials raised in a mixture of topsoil and sand performed better than any of the soil types alone. Semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings without hormone treatment (control) or treated with dip ‘n’grow in a mixture of topsoil and sand should be considered for future propagation of V. africana stem cuttings.