Studies on Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence of Mesquite, Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. in Sudan Gezira

Abstract

Mesquite, Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC, was introduced in many semi-arid areas of Sudan to combat desertification and provide fuel wood and fodder. However, it spread rapidly into fertile, productive areas, and irrigation and drainage channels, particularly in some of the major irrigated schemes. Nursery experiments were conducted at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan, to investigate water uptake by seeds, germination-rate, sowing depth, acid scarification and animal feeding of intact pods on germination and seedling emergence. Pods were collected from town, or the National Tree Seed Center laboratory. Seeds were used immediately after extraction. Petri-dishes with filter paper or plastic pots were used. Treatments were arranged in CRB design, with 4-6 replicates. Data were subjected to ANOVA and DMRT. The results revealed that the seeds have high ability to absorb water and exhibited high rate of germination, especially in the second wk after sowing (96%). Seeds placed on the soil surface failed to germinate, while those buried at depths of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 cm displayed 100, 75, 60 and 40% germination, respectively. Seedling emergence was delayed by deep burial and amounted to 100 and 50% at depth of 2.5 and 5cm, respectively. Seeds germinated and seedlings have emerged at high rates (100%), when treated with sulfuric acid (60%v/v) for 5 min. they germinated and seedlings emerged normally, when extracted from sheep droppings.

Economic Assessment and Community Management of Prosopis juliflora Invasion in Sweimeh Village, Jordan

“…This reflects the perceptions of villagers at Sweimeh as stated in the focus groups, where P. juliflora was deemed to have increased dramatically over the previous twenty years with a confirmed and clear expansion toward the south of Dead Sea, ultimately reaching Ghor Alsafi [40,43]. Local villagers attributed this to the high quantity of seeds and to livestock's ability to disperse seeds while roaming in the village and surrounding grazing areas [49,50]. The fodder prepared by the locals is mainly leaves and pods for maximum protein content, thus, as the villagers and local experts pointed out, it helped in spreading the seeds and expanding P. juliflora invasion in the area.…”