NL Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology
(ISSN: 3048-9679)

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Influence of Different Mulching Materials on Growth of Adansonia digitata Linneous Seedlings

Author(s) : Salami Kaseem D*, Bellu Z, Jibo A. U, Nazil A.
DOI : 10.71168/NAB.03.02.144

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Abstract

Adansonia digitata seedlings face challenges due to harsh environmental conditions; mulching can mitigate these effects and enhance growth performance significantly always. This study investigated the effect of mulching materials on the growth performance of Adansonia digitata seedlings in the nursery unit of Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse. Four treatments including T1 (Sawdust); T2 (Rice bran); T3 (Moringa leave) and T4 (Control) were formulated. The treatments were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six replications. The mulching materials were weighted 20g and carefully spread on the soil surface. Plant height, diameter (stem girth) was measured, leaf production (leaf count) counted and leaf area was assessed through formular. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was carried out and the means were separated using Least Significance Difference (LSD). The results showed that the mulches evaluated have significance effects on the seedlings parameters of Adansonia digitata. However, the mean values obtained for all the parameters considered revealed the sawdust as the best performing mulching materials. For the shoot height, mean value ranged between 26.08cm and 35.62cm, a range from 0.58cm to 0.75cm was recorded for diameter, a range from 38.50 and 43.92 was recorded for the leave area, while the mean values between 19.5 and 32.25 were obtained for number of leaves among the treatments at week 10. It concluded from the study, that sawdust should be used as mulch in the nursery for the production of Adansonia digitata seedlings. Key words: Adansonia digitata, Mulching, Sawdust, Moringa Leaves, Rice bran, Growth.

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