%0 Journal Article
%T Effects of Different Pretreatments to the Seed on Seedling Emergence and Growth of Acacia polyacantha
%A Edward Missanjo
%A Alfred Chioza
%A Chikondi Kulapani
%J International Journal of Forestry Research
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/583069
%X Acacia polyacantha Willd. is a multipurpose tree species prioritised as one of the agroforestry tree species in Malawi. However, its use in agroforestry practices is limited by the low seedling growth and survival at the nursery stage. A study was conducted to evaluate the seedling growth and survival of Acacia polyacantha as affected by different pretreatments on the seeds at Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife nursery, Malawi. Seeds were subjected to five presowing seed treatments methods, namely, immersion in cold water at room temperature for 24 hours, immersion in hot water (100¡ãC) for 5 minutes, immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid (0.3£¿M H2SO4) for 20 minutes, scarification by mechanically nicking using secateurs, and a control where seeds were sown without any treatment. The results indicate that presowing seed treatments have positive influence on the seedling growth and survival percentage. Nicked seeds exhibited the highest significant ( ) performance for vegetative characteristics of height, root collar diameter, number of leaves, and survival percentage compared to other pretreatments. Therefore, it is suggested to use nicking as a pretreatment method on Acacia polyacantha seeds in order to enhance the speed and the amount of early seedling growth at the nursery stage. 1. Introduction Seed germination and early seedling growth phases are considered critical for raising a successful crop as they directly determine the crop stand density and consequently the yield of resultant crop [1]. It is indicated that seed germination, seedling growth, and survival percentage are governed by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors and are species specific [2, 3]. Numerous trees have been identified as fast growing and are categorized as high biomass yielders, while many of the tree species have seeds which possess hard seed coats that are impermeable to water; thus, they cannot germinate under normal condition [4]. Therefore, studies on factors that affect germination, survival percentage, and seedling growth for a particular tree species are required. Acacia polyacantha Willd. is an important multipurpose tree species belonging to the family of Fabaceae and subfamily Mimosoideae [4]. Acacia polyacantha is a large, deciduous tree that grows to an average height of 3.5¨C20£¿m and 3¨C10£¿cm diameter at breast height. Its seeds pods are sweetly scented and borne in spikes, which arise from the nodes. The seed pod appears singly or in clusters of up to four. The number of seeds per pod varies from 3 to 10 and is fairly flattened and dark brown when ripe.
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/2014/583069/