Germination and Growth Performance of A Native Threatened Tree Species Quercus gomeziana A. Camus in Nursery Stage: Case of Bangladesh

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different pre-sowing treatments of seeds on germination and growth performance of native threatened tree species Quercus gomeziana A. Camus at the nursery of Chittagong University, Bangladesh. Furthermore, seedling growth attributes under different doses of fertilizer (urea) was also experimented to find the best dose of fertilizer on this tree species at the nursery stage for better field level growth. Seeds were placed to six pre-sowing treatments e.g. control (PT0), treated with sand paper rubbing (PT1), nicking (PT2), seeds immersed in cold water for 48 hours (PT3), seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days (PT4) and seeds sown at propagator house with increased temperature (PT5). It was found from the study that germination was started earlier (at 31 days) in treatments sand paper rubbing (PT1) and nicking (PT2). The highest germination percentage (93%) was in PT1 followed by 86% in seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days (PT4) and 80% in PT0 (control). Germination percentage was observed least (63%) in PT2 even though germination started earlier. For fertilizer dose experiment to seedlings at the nursery level, treatment FT1: 100 kg/ha (0.33679 g urea/pot/seedling) comparing with other treatments FT0: 0 kg/ha (Control), FT2: 200 kg/ha (0.67358 g urea/pot/seedling), FT3: 300 kg/ha (1.01037 g urea/pot/seedling) showed better performance in case of collar diameter (6.74 mm), number of leaves, shoot dry weight (19.74), total dry weight (28.16 g), total fresh weight (67.96 g), volume index (3904.82), sturdiness (127.69). Finally, it can be concluded that Quercus gomeziana seedlings revealed better performances under the treatment FT1 in growth and biomass production. Findings of this study will be helpful to take decision on organic fertilizer dose application to seedlings of Q. gomeziana for large scale plantation and conservation of this species.