Abstract
This study explores the effects of different levels of urea and folivert (composite fertilizer) on seedlings growth and chlorophyll concentration of Albizia zygia, Blighia welwitschii, Lophira alata and Pterocarpus soyauxii. The rate of fertilizer application per 5.87kg pot with topsoil was 3, 6, and 9g of both urea and composite fertilizer and a control (top soil only) and it was a complete randomized design. Results indicated that plants treated with 3g of urea produced the highest number of leaves in Albizia zygia seedlings only while 9g of composite fertilizer had the best growth performance in all the other growth variables. Albizia zygia and Blighia welwitschii, seedlings had the best results in soil treated with 6g of composite fertilizer, while Lophira alata and Pterocarpus soyauxii seedlings showed best growth in soils treated with 9g of composite fertilizers for all other parameters. Seedlings of species supplied with 9g of urea gave poorest growth performance. Low root/shoot ratios were obtained for all seedlings except for those of Albizia zygia treated with 6 and 9g of urea that had root/shoot ratios greater than 1.0. The effect of fertilizers on chlorophyll concentration was significantly different only for L. alata (P=0.05). This study therefore brings to light the need to fertilize timber tree seedlings in order to improve on their early growth performances in the field and high doses of nitrogen should be discourage.
Highlights
Plants are extremely important to people throughout the world; since they are a major source of food, raw materials for clothing, shelter and primary health care
Seeds of Albizia zygia, Blighia welwitschii and Pterocarpus soyauxii were collected from the Limbe Botanic Gardens
Albizia zygia seedlings treated with 6 g of composite fertilizer had the highest collar diameter of 3.85 mm and the least of 1.10 mm in seedlings supplied with 9 g of urea
Summary
Plants are extremely important to people throughout the world; since they are a major source of food, raw materials for clothing, shelter and primary health care. These needs are growing rapidly because of a growing world population, increasing incomes and urbanization. Tree species qualify as timber when their boles grow very tall before producing branches (Miller and Wiedenhoeft, 2002) and with a diameter at breast height of not less than 60 cm Besides their uses as timber, other parts of these plants are used as medicine by the local communities (Egbe et al; 2012a). There has been global interest in optimising fertilizer application in the nursery for effective nutrient storage by the
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