Publication: Survival and Growth of Olive Tree (Olea africana) Seedlings Under Open Field Conditions is Enhanced in Hydrogel Amended Soils Media, Teso Subcounty, Kenya
Loading...
Total Views 5
total viewsTotal Downloads 4
total downloadsDate
2022-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Funder
NA
Publisher
East African Journal of Forestry and Agroforestry
Cite this Item
Abstract
The rapid decline of timber from natural forests against increasing domestic
demand for wood products has caused a steady increase in timber prices in
Kenya. Recently, research and development institutions have recognized the
ecological and economic value of indigenous tree species and therefore have
emphasized the importance of their future production on private smallholder
farms rather than in large plantations. This situation has been worsened by
climate changes such as the frequent high intensity of prolonged droughts and
the nature of soils with poor water retention capacity. As a result, unplanted
forest regeneration sites have increased hence a need for re-afforestation of
these sites to meet the target for the plantation industry. Therefore, there is a
need for mass production of Olea africana seedlings for reforestation
programs. One such approach is the application of hydrogels or synthetic
polymer organic combinations capable of improving the water and nutrient
retention of the soil that can support seedling growth. This study sought to
investigate the effects of hydrogel application on selected growth
characteristics of O. africana. Seeds were germinated and transferred into two
sets of tubes of the same size arranged in a complete randomized block design
(CRBD) experiment. The sets were subjected to different levels of hydrogel
concentration. Under (0gm as control) and 7gm, 14gm, and 21gm)
concentration levels of hydrogel mixed with soil in open field conditions. The
height and shoot collar diameter of germinated seedlings were measured every
two weeks for two months. The survival of O. africana seedlings decreased
with time for all treatments irrespective of the addition of hydrogels with the
highest (85%) survival of seedlings on soils mixed with 21gm of hydrogel
compared to 0gm hydrogel that recorded (15% survival) eight weeks after
Description
Article
Keywords
Hydrogel, Olea Africana, Water Deficit, Growth, Kenya.