Studies on raising and preparation of planting stock of three indigenous forest timber species in Nigeria

Abstract

Seed germination studies, seedling growth, planting stock preparation and field trial at planting espacement of 3 m x 3 m were evaluated in the study. Soaking seeds in tap water for ten days with daily replacement of water yielded 100% seed germination for A. africana, 100% for A. boonei and 90% for A. lebbeck respectively in light condition. These values were better than those obtained in the control and dark condition. Growth values observed in forest topsoil were significantly different from those from river sand. From Forest Topsoil the total plant heights were 98 ± 16.33 cm for A. africana, 41 ± 6.83 cm for A. lebbeck and 70 ± 11.66 cm for A. boonei while from the river sand, A. Africana had 36 ± 6.0 cm, A. lebbeck had 26.3 ± 4.38 cm and A. boonei had 25.6 ± 4.27 cm. The field trial showed that there is prospect of successful domestication of these species using stumps or seedlings as planting stock. Significant difference was not observed in the trial. The only observed advantage is that more stumps can be transported than the seedlings. For quality planting stock production, soaking the seeds of the species under study for 10 days with daily replacement of water, forest topsoil as seedling growth medium, stumps and seedlings as planting stock are recommended. Keywords: Afzelia africana, Albizia lebbec, Alstonia boonei,Planting stock, agroforestryInternational Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2008: pp. 573-578