Performance of terminalia superba and triplochiton scleroxylon seedlings under different forest canopy

Abstract

This paper presents the performance of Terminalia superba and Triplochiton scleroxylon seedlings in enrichment planting indifferent forest canopy types or disturbance types (Skid trail, landing bay and undisturbed area). An area of 0.05ha (50m x10m) plot each was purposively selected and demarcated in landing bay, skid trails and undisturbed area in Asenanyo ForestReserve in the Nkawie Forest District. Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used to lay different 50m x 10m plots ineach disturbance area. There were five replicates each of Terminalia superba and Triplochiton scleroxylon seedlings plantedat 6m by 6m planting distance in each canopy type. Soil samples were randomly collected at each of the three different forestdisturbance sites at a depth of 0–20 cm. The results revealed a 100% survival of Triplochiton scleroxylon whereas that ofTerminalia superba was 33%. The mean diameter for Terminalia superba seedlings across the three different forest gap typeswas 0.590.25cm whereas Triplochiton scleroxylon seedlings recorded 0.910.48cm. The height of Terminalia superbaseedlings was 42.609.43cm whiles Triplochiton scleroxylon seedlings was 71.2026.67cm. The plant condition scoreacross the different canopy types range from 0-5 for Terminalia superba and 2-5 for Triplochiton scleroxylon. The number ofleaves ranged from 0-14 for Terminalia superba and 5-15 for Triplochiton scleroxylon. The soil bulk density of the skid trailwas significantly (p<0.05) increased by 25.8% whereas the landing bay soil bulk density was significantly (p<0.05) increasedby 59.2% compared to the control. The soil porosity of the skid trail soil significantly (p<0.05) reduced by 12.5% but thelanding bay soil porosity significantly (p<0.05) reduced by 45.3% relative to the control. The skid trail forest disturbance soilhad the moisture content increased by 0.30% whereas the landing bay soil moisture content decreased by 63.2% comparedto the control. Generally, the growth performance of Terminalia scleroxylon seedlings in the three selected gap types wasbetter than Terminalia superba.