African Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0786
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJEST
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 1128

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of seed pre-treatment and its duration on germination of Detarium microcarpum (Guill. and Perr.)

Bernard Nuoleyeng Baatuuwie
  • Bernard Nuoleyeng Baatuuwie
  • Department of Forestry and Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale. Ghana.
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Latif Iddrisu Nasare
  • Latif Iddrisu Nasare
  • Department of Forestry and Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale. Ghana.
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Adnan Smaila
  • Adnan Smaila
  • Department of Forestry and Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale. Ghana.
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Hamza Issifu
  • Hamza Issifu
  • Department of Forestry and Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale. Ghana.
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William Jasper Asante
  • William Jasper Asante
  • Department of Forestry and Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale. Ghana.
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  •  Received: 18 May 2019
  •  Accepted: 13 June 2019
  •  Published: 31 August 2019

Abstract

Detarium microcarpum Guill and Perr is a multipurpose tree species indigenous to semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.  It is being exploited to local extinction due to high dependence for fuelwood and other uses. The present study explored different pre-treatment methods for enhancing seed germination and growth of D. microcarpum in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana.  The experiment employed a 4 × 4 factorial design with seeds subjected to four pre-treatments (50% sulphuric acid concentration, 98% sulphuric acid concentration, cold water and hot water) at four pre-treatment time durations. Percentage germination varied significantly between pre-treatments (p < 0.05) with cold water treatment recording the highest mean germination (73.06%) and the 98% sulphuric acid concentration recording the least (47.72%). Germination rate had a moderate positive relationship with plant height (rxy = 0.49) and collar diameter (rxy = 0.54). The study recommends seed immersion in cold water for 48 h as the most efficient pre-treatment for D. microcarpum.

 

Key words: Detarium microcarpum, germination percentage, plant height, pre-treatment.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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