GROWTH RESPONSE OF AFRICAN BREADFRUIT, TRECULIA AFRICANA (DECNE) SEEDLINGS TO VARYING RATE OF POULTRY MANURE AND AGROSORB UNDER DIFFERENT WATERING REGIME

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of poultry manure and agrosorb as a means of conserving water under different watering regime on the growth of Treculia africana seedlings. Four different levels of poultry manure, watering regime at two different levels (once and twice) daily and agrosorb at two different levels (0 and 3g) were applied. Sixteen treatments were used for the study and each treatment was replicated four times. Measurement of heights, stem diameter and number of leaves was carried out at weekly interval for eight weeks. The results showed that combination of poultry manure, agrosorb (3g) and watering regime (twice daily) gave the best performance in terms of stem height (11.23cm), stem diameter (1.16mm) and leaf count (22.00). There was a significant difference among the treatment in terms of leaf count, girth and stem height as the week progresses when subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% probability level. Therefore, combination of poultry manure, agrosorb (3g) and watering twice daily is then recommended for optimum growth of Treculia africana seedlings at the nursery stage.

Keywords

• agrosorb
• growth
• poultry manure
• soil water
• treculia africana seedlings