ABSTRACT

A four by seven (4 x 7) factorial in the randomized complete block design with four treatments and replications was used to determine seed germination and early seedling growth. Seed germination and early seedling growth were carried out at the nursery of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Abia State, Nigeria to determine the seeds which could germinate and to determine growth rate of the resultant seedlings in different soil media. The species include Buchholzia coriacea, Dennettia tripetala, Garcina cola, Mangifera indica, Pentaclethra macrophylla* Persea americana and Treculia africana. The seeds were collected from the rainforest at Umudike and the nearby forest; broadcast of the seeds was made in the germination boxes. The germinated seedlings were transplanted into polybags and watered once a day. The percentage germination was obtained by counting the number of seeds that germinated per two weeks; the early seedling growth rate of each seedling was determined by measuring the stem height, and the stem girth with mitutoyo Digmatic Japan caliper. The number of leaves were counted and leaf area was measured. The result of percentage germination showed over 85% germination in all the species used with Mangifera indica and Treculia africana recording 100% germination. The result obtained from analysis of early seedling growth rate, showed that there was a significant difference in the growth rate of plant seedling according to soil-type in all the seven species used. The result further proved that the forest creates enabling environment for plant growth hence the highest mean growth in terms ofstem height, stem girth and leaf area as indicated by tables 2 to 25.