Vegetative propagation of indigenous albizia species

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Date
2000-02-05
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Two experiments were conducted at the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) Research Farm to determine the vegetative parts of Albizia adianthfolia, A. ferruginea and A. zygia suitable for propagation. Expenment one dealt with nursery studies where sprouting and rooting potentials of soft wood, semi-hard wood, hard wood and root cuttings of the Albizia species were investigated, and how these plant parts are affected by application of rooting hormone ( 0.25% w/w Naphthalyacetic acid (NAA) and 2.25% captan). The second experiment consisted of transplanting of sprouted root cuttings to the field to assess their growth performance for 12 weeks. Species showed significant difference with respect to sprouting over time with Albizia adianthfolia showing the highest sprouting potential as against A. ferruginea and A. zygia. Sprouting of stem cuttings started at 2 weeks after planting and at 6-8 weeks for root cuttings. Rooting hormone significantly increased sprouting of semi-hard wood cuttings but reduced sprouting of root cuttings. Sprouting mortality was observed in all the species, plant parts and their interactions with rooting hormone. High sprouting mortality (started at 4wap) was recorded for soft wood and hard wood cuttings of A. ferruginea with hormone treatment, hard wood cutting of A. ferruginea without hormone treatment and semi-hard wood cutting of A. adianthfolia without hormone treatment at 10wap. Sprouts from stem cuttings of the three Albjzja species and their interactions with rooting hormone, showed a decrease in height, stem diameter, leaf petioles production and dry matter accumulation from 6wap to 12wap, probably because they did not develop roots to absorb water and nutrients to sustain their growth. Sprouts from root cuttings of the three species on the other hand, showed a steady increase in height, stem diameter, leaf petioles and dry matter production. The highest number of roots developed per cutting (11.6) was recorded for root cuttings of A.ferruginea without hormone treatment at l2wap. Transplanted root cuttings showed appreciable increase in height, stem diameter, leaf petioles production and dry matter accumulation with A. ferruginea performing better than A. adianthfolia and A. zygia. Species showed significant difference (p<0.05) in growth. However, interaction between root cuttings and rooting hormone had no significant effect on height, stem diameter, leaf petioles production, root development, nodules production and dry matter accumulation at 12 weeks after transplanting. It could be inferred that, root cuttings of Albizia species have the potential of being propagated vegetatively without rooting hormone treatment.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Master of Science Degree in Agroforestry, 2000
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