Evaluation of Growth Performance of African Rose Wood Seedlings on Different Soil in Kaduna Northern Guinea Savanna Eco-Zone Nigeria

Abstract

Limited empirical studies have examined the nexus between soil properties survival and growth performance of Pterocarpus erinaceous under different soil and environmental conditions; this knowledge is however critical for the successful establishment of African rosewood plantations and general ecological balances in the forest ecosystem. Preliminary study was carried out on the growth performance of Pterocarpus erinaceous seedlings on different soil sources at the nursery of the Savanna Forestry Research Station situated in the Institute for Agricultural Research (I.A.R) farm Samaru, Kurumi Bomu village. Farm land soil were collected from Institute of Agricultural Research (I.A.R) farm Samaru at Kurumi Bomu village while forest soil and granulated iron stone soil were gotten within the Savanna Forest Research Station, plantations. The seedlings of four (4) weeks were gotten from Savanna Forest Research Station, and transplanted into these soil samples; replicated eight (8) times and readings were taken forth nightly for three (3) months. The experiment was laid using Complete Randomized Design method. Growth data were collected forth nightly and was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test. Result shows that there is significant (P≤0.05) difference in the height, stem diameter and number of leaf among the three (3) soil for the growth assessment. The growth rate recorded from the farm land soil is statistical higher (P≤0.05) in leaf width, plant height and stem diameter than the other two (2) soil while the growth parameters assessed are significantly lower (P≤0.05) in iron stone soil and Forest soil. It is recommended that soil from the farmland is the most suitable for raising and nurturing of Pterocarpus erinaceous in the nursery without additional of any plant nutrient media.