Browsing by Author "Ngulube, Mzoma R"

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    Seed and nursery studies of afzelia Quanzensis
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1983) Ngulube, Mzoma R
    Procedures for raising high quality planting stock of Afzelia quenzensis were investigated at Morogoro between February and July 1983. Experiments were performed to determine seed treatment procedures and the effects of seed grade, sowing depth, potting mixtures and root pruning regimes on germination, seedling survival and growth in the nursery. The mast effective seed pre-treatments were clarification which gave 100% germination in 10 days) and cold water soaking for 24 hours which gave about 87% germination over 21 days).The least effective pre-treatments were hot water and scorching which gave 0% and 3.33% respectively over 21 days. Once germinated, the survival of the seedlings was 100% regardless of seed grads, sowing depth or potting mixture. The growth following germination depended on seed grade. For every parameter of growth recorded, larger seeds resulted in seedlings which showed more rapid development than seedlings from smaller seeds over the observation period. Sowing depth proved of considerable importances: the shallower the sawing the more the growth achieved. Soil mixtures had no significant effect on germination or seedling performance. Root pruning seedlings caused negligible reduction in shoot growth and failed to induce production of a fibrous root system in the stock. Repeated root pruning resulted in development of clubs at the ends of the severed tap roots. Change in seedling characteristics following root pruning operations in total seedling dry matter production (unpruned seedling: consisted of significantly more dry matter than root pruned seedlins), but the intensity of root pruning had little effect on seedling growth. The results are considered in the context of nursery studies of other tree species and in the light of knowledge generally about Afzelia quanzensis which is reviewed. Tentative recommendations on nursery routines for raising the tree are made.