Assessment of the Effect of Cutting Length on Sprout and Growth of Pterocarpus santalinoides L’hérit. Ex Dc

Aims: This study evaluated the effect of cutting lengths on sprouts and seedling growth of P. santalinoides.

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management Nursery, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, between April 2019 and March 2020.

Methodology: Ten (10) cuttings per cutting length were planted in a polybag filled with forest topsoil. The treatments are; 13, 20, 25 and 33 cm cutting lengths. Five seedlings per treatment were randomly selected and dried for biomass. Emergence of sprouts, number of leaves and branches, survival rate, number of cuttings that sprouted, sprout length, root length and biomass were determined and subjected to analysis of variance.

Results: Sprouts emergence occurred earliest in 25 cm cuttings (7 days) and latest in 13 and 20 cm cuttings (12 days). There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in leaf number at month 1, number of branches at months 1, 3, 5 and 9, cutting length at month 2 and root to shoot ratio and non-significant differences (P > 0.05) in leaf number at months 3,5,7,9 and 11, number of branches at months 7 and 11, number of sprouts, cutting length at month 12, root length, shoot biomass, root biomass and total fresh and dry weight. Twenty five (25) cm long cutting enhanced sprout parameters while 33 cm long cutting enhanced root parameters.

Conclusion: The result showed that 25 and 33 cm long cuttings are most suitable cutting lengths and are therefore recommended for growth of the species.