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The research was conducted at the screen house of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria. The study was carried out from January to May 2021 to access the effect of different potting media on germination and early growth of Newbodia laevis. Treatments were laid out in a Complete Randomize Design (CRD) with four replications. The germination parameters measured were days to germination, germination period and germination percentage while the growth variables measured includes plant height, collar diameter and number of leaves. The potting media used were T1 (topsoil and cow dung), T2 (topsoil and goat dung), T3 (topsoil and poultry dropping), T4(topsoil and sawdust), T5 control (topsoil only). Data collected were subjected to R software, using the following packages: plyr, car, gvlma, one-way tests, user friendly science, ggplot. Results obtained indicated that T1 had the highest germination percentage (85%) followed by T2 and T3 with germination percentages of 82% and 80% respectively. T4 had the poorest germination percentage (60%). The results also showed that the treatment had direct effect on the seedling early growth; the highest mean collar girth was observed in T1 with 1.85 cm while the least was observed in T4 with 0.72 m. The highest mean height was observed in T2 with 22.15 cm while the least was observed in T4 with 7.23 cm.  Also, the highest mean number of leaves was observed in T2 with 21leaves while the least was observed in T4 with 7 leaves. Based on the findings of these experiments it is recommended that for maximum growth and optimum germination of Newbodia laevis, T1 and T2 should be used, sawdust had poor germination and growth performance and thereby is not recommended for the early growth of Newbodia laevis seedlings.

Over the years enrolment of students in to forestry programme is always low and many of the students in forestry programme do not always choose the programme. This underpinned the need for a comprehensive knowledge about the reasons behind the low enrolment in Forestry and forestry-related disciplines, with a view to provide the needed data that will guide stakeholders in taking an informed decisions that will help in addressing the challenges that resulted in the shortage of manpower in the forestry and wildlife sector. Stratified random and purposive sampling techniques were used in the selection of secondary schools in Makurdi metropolis. A total of 195 students were selected for interview from six schools using Taro-yamane formula. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis. The study shows that 61.5% were male and majority of the students (68.2%) were within the age bracket of 11-15 years with mean age of 14 years. The students strongly agreed that they were aware of forestry as a course of study in high institutions (MWS =3.99, >3.05) and the career opportunities in forestry (MWS =3.67, >3.05). The level of students’ awareness of forestry as a course differ significantly (H=16.85 P<0.05) with type of school the students attended. Also, there was a significant difference (H=18.46, P<0.05) between the students’ level of awareness of career opportunities and types of school attended. The students’ strongly agreed that they will not choose forestry as a course of study in the high institutions because it is not their family choice (MWS =3.52, <2.95). The study recommends that parents should allow their children to choose any course of their choice instead of parents determining career choice for their children so as to enable effective study of career choices. Also government should make forestry agencies active and strong so that forestry graduates will be sure of job opportunities after school. There is need for massive public enlightenment on the importance and career opportunities in forestry.

The importance of appropriate growth media for propagation of Annona muricata seedlings cannot be over emphasized. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar and organic soil amendments on seedling development of Annona muricata using different potting media. The treatments were Control; Topsoil only (T0), Mineralized goat dung (T1), Mineralized saw dust (T2), Mineralized poultry dropping (T3) and Mineralized biochar (T4). The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Parameters accessed include seedling height (cm), collar diameter (cm) and number of leaves.  The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant means were separated using Duncan multiple range test at 0.05 significant level. Result shows that Mineralized biochar had the best performance in seedling height, collar diameter and number of leaves with mean values of 26.703±1.5488, 4867±0.22904 and 4.4451±1.55031 respectively. While the least performance in seedling height, collar diameter and number of leaves was recorded in the control with mean values of 19.986±1.1265, 0.3230±0.17363 and 3.6765±1.14724 respectively. However, there were significant differences in seedling heights and collar diameter among the treatment types at 5% level of probability, but the number of leaves was not significant. Annona muricata seedlings thrives excellently in biochar potting media. Hence, the use of biochar potting media should be adopted as the best growth media for early growth and development of Annona muricata seedlings.

The study evaluated litter production capacity of three forest plantation foliage litters as potential mineralization sources for the growth of Irvingiaga bonensis. Litter production capacity of Bamboo, Teak and Gmelina forest plantations was monitored for 70 days before Irvingia seeds were sown in open germination beds containing litters soil samples for vegetative development assessment. Data collected were analyzed using ANOVA and significant means separated with the DMRT. Results showed the mean litter production as Teak (3.65t/ha) >Gmelina (3.60t/ha)> Bamboo (2.67t/ha) and germination percentage was highest for soils of Bamboo plantation. The carbon nitrogen ratio was Gmelina (2.60)> Teak (2.24)> Bamboo (1.90) and bulk density as Gmelina (1.59 g/cm 3 ) > Teak (1.47 g/cm 3 ) > Bamboo (1.45 g/cm 3 ). The plant height, leaf area and leaf to stem ratio were Bamboo >Gmelina> Teak while the collar diameter was highest in Teak forest plantation soils. The study showed soils under the Bamboo forest as the best growth media for I. gabonensis, and therefore implied soils under the Bamboo forest as potential natural nursery and forest regeneration materials, especially in the current global deforestation menace that have adversely limited the preponderance of silvical floor litters.

This study evaluated the early germination and growth variables of Irvingia gabonensis under organically primed and thermally amended soil media. Six media were prepared from Gmelina plantation topsoil by amendment with poultry waste (T2), river sand (T3) and combusted forest floor litters for 5 (T4), 10 (T5), 15 (T6) and 20 (T7) minutes respectively to contrast a control topsoil (T1). Soil media were analyzed for critical nutrient properties and engaged in the germination and early growth trial of Irvingia replicated three times, and arranged in a completely randomized design. Data collected were analyzed with ANOVA and significant means separated with the Duncan multiple range test. The results showed that Ca/Mg ratio was widest for T3, least CEC (13.2 meq/100 g soil) by T7 and slightly acidic pH (H2O) for T1 and T2 while T3, T4, T6 and T7 were alkaline. Germination at 6WAS was T4 (100%)> T1=T2=T5 (85.71%) > T3 (71.43%) > T6 (42.86%) > T7 (0%). The growth variables of seedling varied significantly (P<0.05) with T3 and T4 comparing favorably in collar diameter (4.50x10-1± 0.05 mm) and leaf area (35.08±4.85 mm2) although T3 recorded the highest stem height (117.79±0.42 mm). The study recommends the use of least thermally modified media (T4) and primed topsoil-riversand (T3) for fast germination in view of conserving food reserve for the critical early growth period of I. gabonensis in pursuit of its domestication in nutrient degraded soils.

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Aims: The application of pre-sowing treatment has greatly improved the germination of seeds of tree species used in afforestation programmes all over the world. This study aimed to determine the effect of different pre-sowing treatments on the germination of Prosopis africana seeds. Study Design: The experiment was laid in a completely randomized design. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out from 11th November to 30th December 2019atthe Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methodology: Ten seeds each were soaked in ten treatments: tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid (H2SO4) for 10, 20 and 30 minutes; hot water for 6, 12 and 24 hours; and cold water for 3, 5 and 7 days. Ten seeds from each of the treatments were sown in a germination box containing sterilized river bank sand and each replicated five (5) times. Percentage germinations for each treatment were arcsine transformed, subjected to analysis of variance and significant means were separated using Duncan multiple range test at 5% probability level. Results: The results revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in germination. The seeds treated with acid for 30 minutes had the highest mean (51.405) and standard deviation (8.983), seeds soaked in cold water for 3 days and 7 days had no germination. Conclusion: The study concluded that soaking Prosopis africana seeds for 30 minutes in H2SO4 breaks its dormancy, hence, was recommended for improved seed germination.