By: ADELANI D. O.; MAIKANO S. .; ADURADOLA M. A.;
Abstract:
Two experiments were conducted in the nursery of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka Kaduna to assess the effect of hydro and halo priming on the germination of Zizyphus mauritiana seeds with hard seed coat. The first experiment was laid down in a completely randomized design with four replicates. The second employed the use of split-plot experimental design with four replications to investigate the effect of sodium chloride concentrations (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5ppm) and treatment periods (0, 12, 24, 36 and 72hours) on the germination of Z. mauritiana seeds. Results revealed that a significant decrease in percentage germination was recorded with the increasing hydro priming hours. Highest germination percentage value of 68.75% was recorded for seeds soaked in water for 6hours. A significant decrease in percentage germination was recorded with increasing treatment period of soaking seeds in NaCl from 12 to 36 hours. The percentage germination ranged between 22.19% - 54.38% for 0 and 72 hours of seed soaking. The percentage germination ranged between 13.75% - 81.28% for seeds soaked in 0.2 and 0.5ppm concentrations of NaCl. The least mean germination time of 20.05days was recorded for treatment time of 36hours. Interaction result showed that 81.28% recorded for seeds treated in 0.5ppm for 12hours was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of 72hours (25%) and is recommended for its mass seedling production for agro-forestry programmes.
Keywords: Treatment periods, Concentration, Halo-priming, Mean germination time, Agroforestry.
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