Growth response of Garcinia kola (Heckel) plant to natural shade in a rainforest environment of Nigeria

Sustainable production of Garcinia kola can be achieved through the establishment of its plantation with the right silvicultural requirements. The growth response of Garcinia kola (Heckel) plant under a Tectona grandis L. plantation and open field was studied for three years. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) involving three replicates per treatment. The treatments were shade from Tectona grandis (Teak) and control (open field without shade where fresh clear-felling/harvesting of Tectona grandis (Teak) has just been carried out). Measurement of treatment effects on growth of Garcinia kola commenced six months after planting and was repeated at six-month intervals, while soil temperature was measured at two week intervals. Significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher differences were observed after the first year in height, collar diameter, and crown width on the shaded plant. The soil temperature for the shaded field was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower than the control field. Hence it is recommended that sustainable production of Garcinia kola through plantation establishment should be done under the shade of older trees.