Improving Growth of Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don Seedlings Using Leaf Litters of Selected Nitrogen-Fixing Albizia Trees

Abstract

There is paucity of quantified information on the influence of plant-based manure on the growth of Chrysophyllum albidum. In an attempt to improve the slow growth of C. albidum seedlings, investigation was conducted to assess growth of Chrysophyllum albidum using the leaf litters of some nitrogen-fixing albizia trees. The experiment adopted a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments duplicated five times. The treatments included leaf litters from selected nitrogen-fixing albizia trees (Albizia zygia, Albizia coriaria, Albizia ferruginea, Albizia lebbeck, Albizia saman) and a check on the growth of C. albidum. The experiment involved a total of thirty seedlings. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed on the result of C. albidum seedlings carefully transplanted into pots with and without 400g of leaf litters of nitrogen-fixing albizia trees. The growth of C. albidum was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the leaf litters of specific nitrogen-fixing albizia trees. Tallest plant (29.84cm)., widest girth (1.71cm)., widest leaf area (53.86cm2 )., highest total fresh weight (15.42g) and dry weight (8.89g) were recorded from seedlings planted in the soil supplemented with leaf litters of A. ferruginea., while least growth metrics were recorded from unamended treatment (control). Seedlings cultivated in the soil supplemented with leaf litters of Albizia lebbeck gave highest number of leaves (12.20). The leaf litter of A. ferruginea improves the growth of C. albidum seedlings.