Evaluation of the Effect of Different Nursery Media on the Emergence and Growth of Three Tropical Tree Species

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Nursery section of the Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State from June to evaluate the effect of different nursery media on the emergence and growth of three tropical tree species: Citrus paradise (Grape), Citrus aurantium (Bitter orange) and Anona muricata. L (Sour sop) June to August 2014. Seven nursery media were evaluated for their seedling emergence and early growth. Physiochemical analysis was performed on the three growing medium. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design. Growth and yield parameters (number of leaves, plant height, root length, root weight, shoot length and shoot weight) were taken. It was observed that treatment with top soil only performed significantly higher as pertaining to plant height followed by treatment with combination of top soil and river sand in Citrus paradise (Grape). Treatment with top soil only, significantly had the highest number of leaves followed by treatment with top soil +river sand, rice hull + river sand + rice hull and river sand in grape. Plant height of Anona nuricata. L (Sour sop) was greatly supported significantly by treatment with the combination of rice hull+ river sand+ top soil followed by treatment with river sand only. Treatment with river sand only support significantly the yield in Anona nuricata. L (Sour sop) while treatment with river sand only support significantly the yield of Citrus paradise (Grape). Phytochemical analysis of the juices of Anona nuricata. L (Sour sop) and citrus aurantium (Bitter orange) reveals the presence of tannin, phenol, phytate, oxalate and flavoids which indicate their medicinal functions.