Effects of Pre-Germination Treatments and Sowing Depths on Early Growth of Sesban (Sesbania sesban)

• D.O. Adelani

  Author

This study was carried out in Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka, Kaduna to investigate means of enhancing the germination of Sesbania sesban seeds which has a very low germination rate under normal conditions. The seeds of S. sesban were soaked in water temperatures of 270C, 500C, 730C and 960C and sowing depths of 1, 2, 3, 4cm. The second experiments assessed the effect of sulphuric acid treatment duration and volume on the germination of S. sesban. Results showed that germination percentage values of S. sesban seeds ranged from 29.19 to 50.83% at various water temperatures. Germination percentage values of S. sesban seeds ranged from 34.17% to 41.67% at various sowing depths. Germination percentage values ranged from 26.67% to 30%, 30% to 46.67%, 30% to 33.33% and 46.67% to 60% for S. sesban seeds soaked in 270C, 500C, 730C and 960C water temperatures at various sowing depths respectively. Highest significant (P<0.05) value of 50.83% was recorded for S. sesban seeds soaked in 960C water temperature. Highest value of 41.61% was recorded for of S. sesban seeds sown at 1cm depth. The result of interactive effect showed the highest values of 60% for S. sesban seeds soaked in 960C water temperatures and sown at 1cm depth. Germination percentage of S. sesban seeds treated for 30 minutes in 98% concentration of sulphuric acid (90%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of 10 minutes (87.78%) and 60 minutes (83.33%). Germination percentage values of S. sesban soaked in 20ml (90%) and 50ml (90%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of 30ml (81.11%). The result of interactive effect of treatment duration and volume of acid on the germination of S. sesban seeds showed that germination percentage of S. sesban seeds soaked in 20ml (100%), 50 ml (90%) and 30ml (80%) of sulphuric acid for 30minutes were significantly (P<0.05) higher than one and other.

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