Abstract
The study investigated the response of tree seedlings to different pot thickness. Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don (Ericales: Sapotaceae) seedlings were subjected to four treatments, T1 = 0.01 mm pot polythene thickness, T2 = 0.02 mm polythene pot thickness, T3 = 0.03 mm polythene pot thickness, T4 = 0.04 mm pot polythene thickness, 0.01 mm served as control. There were four treatments replicated five times making a total of twenty seedlings altogether. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Growth parameters assessed fortnightly were plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm) and number of leaves. Soil temperature of each treatment at different time intervals were also monitored and recorded. Data recorded were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result showed that T1 had the best performance in terms of plant height and stem diameter while equal number of leaves were recorded in all the treatments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there were no significant differences among treatments at 5% level of significance. This indicates that polythene pot thickness of 0.01 mm-0.04 mm can be used to raise C. albidum seedlings at the nursery stage. Soil temperature increases with polythene pot thickness. Hence, T4 gave the highest soil temperature of 36.7 oC. Soil temperature and seedlings growth increases with polythene pots thickness. For optimum growth and development of C. albidum seedlings in the nursery 0.01 mm polythene pot should be used.
Highlights
According to Josiah et al (1992), in tropical countries the containers system used in seedlings production is vastly different
Increase in the value of the growth parameters assessed in this study improved the vegetative growth of C. albidum which might have contributed to increase in the rate of photosynthesis resulting in better performance
From the study carried out and based on the result of the statistical analysis, it has clearly shown that C. albidum seedlings responded positively to polythene pots of varying thickness in terms of plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves
Summary
According to Josiah et al (1992), in tropical countries the containers system used in seedlings production is vastly different. The common system over most Africa, Latin America, and South East Asia is a container system that utilizes a black bag called polythene pot. This is literally a polythene pot of 1 mm with greater thickness of one or two small holes punched in the bottom for drainage and aeration. Several experiments (Jones, 1993; Rabendrum and Jeyasingam, 1996; Dun et al, 1997) have been concluded to identify the effect of different container on the tree seedlings of tropical tree.
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