In any plantation establishment programme their must be adequate number of healthy seedlings and these depend on the nutrition and care given to them at the nursery stage. Pot experiment was conducted to assess the response of Moringa oleifera (Lam.) seedlings to different soil and nutritional sources at nursery stage. One hundred seeds were obtained from Centre for Environmental Renewable Resources Research and Development (CENRAD), Ibadan, Nigeria, and sown in germination trays. Seed germination was completed between 10-15 days, 36 uniformly growing seedlings were transplanted into polythene pots of size 29 cm × 25 cm and were filled with different soil sources at 500 g (arable) soil, forest reserve soil and natural forest mixed with nutritional sources of the same ratio (10 g) i.e. poultry manure, cow dung and NPK (15:15:15). The experiment was factorial arranged in a completely randomized design. Result showed that pots with natural forest soil mixed with 10 m NPK (s3f3) produced seedlings with highest value. In plant height (76.30 cm), stem diameter (3.47 mm) and number of branches (10) which was significantly different (p < 0.01) from the other treatments. The least value in plant height (30.70 cm) stem diameter (1.50 mm) and number of branches (3.3) were recorded in pots with forest reserve soil mixed with cow dung (s2f2). Interaction effect of soil and nutritional sources were significant for all the growth parameters assessed (p < 0.01). Natural forest soils treated with NPK (15:15:15) should be employed in raising Moringa oleifera seedlings at nursery stage for optimum performance.
Indigenous tree species like Terminalia ivorensis has multiple uses; from timber products to medicinal condiments for treating different ailments. This species is self-incompatible. Thus, habitat protection is a key to its survival and sustenance. This study evaluated the effect of provenance variations on the growth and development of T. ivorensis. Three provenances of T. ivorensis were selected; FRIN Arboretum, Onigambari Forest Reserve and J1 Forest Reserve. Thirty (30) seedlings of T. ivorensis were selected and marked at each provenance for assessment of growth parameters for a period of twelve weeks. The growth parameters included: seedling height, collar diameter, leaf count and leaf area. Also, soil samples were collected from each provenance to test for nutrient composition. Results showed that J1 Forest Reserve had best performance across the growth parameters assessed with 10.4 cm plant height, 2.02 mm collar diameter, 11 leaves count and 20.5 cm2 leaf area respectively. This growth parameter result differs significantly from the other two provenances. This was also attributed to the nutrient offered by J1 Forest Reserve with 1.18% and 2.20% of organic carbon and organic matter in the soil respectively. Also, the available phosphorus which is involved in photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and transfer, cell division and enlargement as well as promotion of root formation was about 15.7 mg/kg in the soil and is considered high because it is higher than the critical level of 8.50mg/kg. J1 Forest Reserve is recommended as the best provenance for raising T. ivorensis amongst assessed natural habitats.
Assessing intrinsic wood qualities such as modulus of elasticity and internal decay in trees and logs can be challenging. However, acoustic technologies have been investigated for a possible solution. This paper reviews available literature on non-destructive acoustic methods for assessing wood quality, both in tree and log form. The paper further reviews the effects of silvicultural practices (such as thinning and pruning) on wood quality assessed by nondestructive acoustic methods. We documented some of the benefits of application of nondestructive acoustic methods on wood quality of trees and logs. The acoustic velocity of a tree (V T ) or log (V L ) of the propagated waves and wood density can be used to determine the Dynamic Modulus of Elasticity (MOEd). Thinning was reported to affect V T /V L and MOEd negatively. Acoustic tomography methods were equally found to have good accuracy in detecting the location and extent of wood decay in standing trees and logs.
Soil nutrient augmentation by some nitrogen (N2) fixing trees/shrubs coupled with their profuse litter cannot be over emphasized since most of them are deciduous. Thus, the influence of Albizia lebbeck Benth (its green manure and N2 fixation activities of its 6 months' old tree rows when first planted) on soil fertility under alley cropping (an agro-forestry system) with Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was investigated. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising five treatments (T0 -T4) and three replicates. Soil sample analyses (pre and post experiment) were done. Tending operations and data collection on the morphological and yield parameters of the test crop throughout the five cropping seasons were carried out. Results on the soil physical properties indicated that the nine (9) samples from the three soil depths of T4 were predominantly sandy loam (except two samples) sequel to the fact that T4 received the highest rate of green manure application (10 ton ha-1) and also had A. lebbeck tree rows. Thus, a little (non-significant) difference between the pre and post planting soil texture was observed and the textural classes were mainly loamy textured with sandy clay loam, clay loam and sandy loam constituting the dominant textural classes. Regarding the soil chemical properties, the organic matter and % N2 were very low and the values decreased from pre planting to after planting (no significant difference between treatments /blocks) due to crop removal. A. lebbeck green manure and its tree rows significantly (P < 0.5) influenced the available P and K at three soil depths and block effects were observed at significant level (P < 0.5) on the pH and Mg. The morphological parameters (plant height, leaf count and collar girth) except stem count were highly influenced by the different levels of Albizia lebbeck green manure application and its tree rows (sequel to N2 fixation) at P < 0.1 which subsequently brought about significant differences in yield (tuber count (P < 0.5) and tuber weight (P < 0.01).of the crop (Irish potato) in all the 5 treatments and throughout the 5 cropping seasons owing to modification / improvement on the soil nutrient status in the agro-forestry farm.
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