Nursery Establishment of Abanus (Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. and Perr.) PDF

Keywords

Abanus tree, seed propagation, shaded area, sand clay, mixture, periodical irrigation, density

Abstract

The present study is devoted to the establishment of abanus (Dalbergia melanoxylon) by seed propagation in the nursery as the tree is of high economic importance, of weak natural regeneration, and listed as an endangered species. The study attempts to determine optimal conditions for raising the seedlings artificially in order to supplement natural regeneration. Seedlings of abanus were raised under partial shade. They were grown in sand, clay or a mixture of sand and clay (1:1 by volume). They were irrigated daily for two weeks for initial establishment and irrigated either daily, every two days or every four days thereafter. The results showed that seedlings should be grown in a mixture of sand and clay so as to obtain the greatest shoot length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight and shoot and root dry weights. They may be raised in sand to the greatest root length and number of leaves. Seedlings should be irrigated daily for two weeks for initial establishment, and then every two days thereafter so as to obtain the greatest shoot length, root length and shoot fresh weight.