Effect of polythene pot thickness on seedling growth of Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don (Ericales: Sapotaceae)

The study investigated the response of tree seedlings to different pot thickness. Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don (Ericales: Sapotaceae) seedlings were subjected to four treatments, T1 = 0.01 mm pot polythene thickness, T2 = 0.02 mm polythene pot thickness, T3 = 0.03 mm polythene pot thickness, T4 = 0.04 mm pot polythene thickness, 0.01 mm served as control. There were four treatments replicated five times making a total of twenty seedlings altogether. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Growth parameters assessed fortnightly were plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm) and number of leaves. Soil temperature of each treatment at different time intervals were also monitored and recorded. Data recorded were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result showed that T1 had the best performance in terms of plant height and stem diameter while equal number of leaves were recorded in all the treatments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there were no significant differences among treatments at 5% level of significance. This indicates that polythene pot thickness of 0.01 mm-0.04 mm can be used to raise C. albidum seedlings at the nursery stage. Soil temperature increases with polythene pot thickness. Hence, T4 gave the highest soil temperature of 36.7 oC. Soil temperature and seedlings growth increases with polythene pots thickness. For optimum growth and development of C. albidum seedlings in the nursery 0.01 mm polythene pot should be used.