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Home → Publications → Forest Nursery Notes → 2009 Winter Forest Nursery Notes → 2009 Winter Forest Nursery Notes - New Nursery Literature → Effect of Growth Media and Fertilizer Application on Biomass Allocation and Survival of Uapaca Kirkiana Muell Arg Seedlings

Effect of Growth Media and Fertilizer Application on Biomass Allocation and Survival of Uapaca Kirkiana Muell Arg Seedlings

Sileshi, G., Akinnifesi, F. K., Mkonda, A., and Ajayi, O. C. Scientific Research and Essay 2(9):408-415. 2007.

Uapaca kirkiana Muell Arg is one of the few recognized African fruit trees earmarked for conservation and domestication in southern Africa. However, efforts to raise seedlings of this species have been frustrated by the slow growth and high seedling mortality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of potting mixture, soil and foliar fertilizer application on plant growth, biomass allocation and survival of U. kirkiana seedlings in the nursery. Growth in height and diameter was best in plants with root to shoot ratio of <1 or 2.5-4. Growth in height and diameter significantly differed (P<0.01) with treatment main effects and interactions. The best growth was recorded in the treatment combination consisting of unsterilized forest soil+ soil and foliar application fertilizer.


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Author(s): G. Sileshi, F. K. Akinnifesi, A. Mkonda, O. C. Ajayi

Section: Tropical Forestry and Agroforestry