Shade Effect on the Early Growth Characteristics of Jatropha (Jatrophacurcas (Lin)) Seedlings in Sudan Savannah of Kano Nigeria
[1]
Adamu Isa, Shelterbelt Research Station, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria.
[2]
Adamu Usman Adamu, Shelterbelt Research Station, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria.
[3]
Isa Umar Aminu, Department of Plant Biology, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria.
[4]
Yahaya Iliyasu Bello, Department of Plant Biology, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria.
[5]
Abdullahi Bako Asiya, Department of Plant Biology, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria.
[6]
Ahmed Abubakar Maigatari, Department of Crop Production, Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia, Nigeria.
This study examined the effect of shade on the early growth characteristics of Jatrophacurcas seedlings in Kano, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted between April, 2014 and July, 2014. Early growth characteristics of Jatrophacurcas seedlings were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) at each of the two treatments (shade and sun). Line and Bar graphs were used to describe the number of days to seedlings emergence and other early growth parameters at both shade and sun treatments. Paired student t-test was used to determine if there is a significant difference in the early growth characteristics of Jatrophacurcas seedlings between the two treatments. All tests were carried out at 0.05 significant levels. The findings of the study revealed that the seedlings in the sun treatment grow faster and gave better results than their shade counter parts. This confirms the effects of sun light on plants and the vital role it plays especially during photosynthesis. The student t-test results showed that there is a significant difference in plant height, stem diameter, leaf count and crop growth rate between the shade and sun treatments. However, it showed that there is no significant difference in seedlings emergence and leaf area between the two treatments. Finally, it is recommended that Farmers or Entrepreneurs in the study area should raisedJatrophacurcas seedling in an open space to avoid shade effect as this will expose the seedlings to more sunlight for efficient photosynthesis and other growth processes.
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