EFFECT OF DIFFERENT WATERING REGIMES AND LIGHT INTENSITY ON THE GROWTH OF ENTANDROPHRAGMA CYLINDRICUM (SPRAGUE) SEEDLINGS
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Abstract
The study investigated the effect of watering regimes and light intensity on the growth of Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sprague) seedlings. One hundred and eighty uniformly growing E. cylindricum seedlings were transplanted into polyethylene pots filled with top soil. Seedlings were grouped into four and subjected to different light intensities namely: 100% (L1), 75 % (L2), 50 % (L3) and 25 % (L4). Fifteen single plant replicates were randomly selected from each treatment, exposed to varying levels of watering- once daily (W1), once in two days (W2) and once in three days (W3) and arranged in a 3×4 factorial experiment in completely randomized design. Seedlings height (SH), collar diameter (CD), number of leaves (NL) and leaf area (LA) were assessed weekly. Biomass assessment was determined at the end of the experiment. Light intensity and watering regime had significant effect on CD and NL at 5% probability level. L4 had highest CD; 9.4 mm, and NL; 6.1, while L1 had highest LA; 34.74 cm2. W3 had highest SH; 20.47 cm, CD; 10.24 mm, and NL; 6.3. The results from this study have shown that E. cylindricum seedlings thrive well under shade and in areas with limited rainfall.