TITLE:
Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Moringa oleifera Lam with Different Seeds Soaking Time and Substrates at the Yongka Western Highlands Research Garden Park (YWHRGP) Nkwen-Bamenda, North-West Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Bernard Palmer Kfuban Yerima, Grace Mbakpor Ayuk, Roger Kogge Enang, Nicole Guehjung, Yanick Alphonse Tiamgne
KEYWORDS:
Soaking, Substrate Composition, Germination, Initial Growth, Western Highlands
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.7 No.15,
November
7,
2016
ABSTRACT: Moringa oleifera is a multipurpose tree used to remedy problems related to food insecurity
and soil fertility degradation. Proper husbandry of this crop is contingent on
the use of seedlings of good quality. This study aimed at assessing the germination
and early seedling growth with different soaking durations and substrates composition.
The seeds were obtained from the Far North region of Cameroon. A randomized
complete block design with three replications was used. Two factors were
tested; soaking duration with 4 treatment levels of 0 day, 4 days, 8 days and 12 days
and substrates with 8 treatment levels: 100% soil, 75% soil + 25% poultry manure
(PM), 50% soil + 50% PM, 25% soil + 75% PM, 100% sand, 75% sand + 25% PM,
50% sand + 50% PM and 25% sand + 75% PM. Germinated seeds and growth parameters
were collected after every 5 days. The results showed that soaking duration
and substrate composition influence germination and initial development of M. oleifera
(p ≤ 0.05). At 25 days after soaking (DAS), soaking durations of 0 day (68.7%)
and 8 days (53.1%) showed the highest germination percentages while seeds soaked
for 12 days occupied the least position with 37.5%. At the same time, 75% soil + 25%
PM (68.7%), 100% sand (64.5%) and 100% soil (60.5%) with the unsoaked seeds
showed the highest germination percentages. The least germination percentages were represented by 50% sand + 50% PM and 25% sand + 75% PM with 35.5% and 27%,
respectively. Unsoaked seeds with the substrates of 50% soil + 50% PM are the best
practice for M. oleifera seedling production in the nursery.