Evaluation of growth of gliricidia sepium provenances at Gairo, Kibaha and SUA farm, Tanzania

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Date

2003

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Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

Growth evaluation was conducted among seventeen provenances of Gliricidia sepium at Gairo, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) farm and Kibaha, Tanzania. Assessment was done at irregular intervals for survival, root collar diameter and diameter at 30 cm above the ground, height, multiple stems production. foliage and wood and total biomass production. Final assessment of these tree attributes was done at 70, 69 and 34 months after planting for Gairo, SUA farm and Kibaha site respectively while unit leaf mass, foliar N and P concentrations was assessed at 73, 72 and 36 months after planting for Gairo. SUA farm and Kibaha site correspondingly. For SUA farm site, during the final assessment occasion, height ranged from 3.77 (Taxico) to 4.85 m (Belen Rivas), foliar N concentration ranged from 3.58 (Taxico) to 4.24% (Thailand) while P concentration ranged 0.16 (Playa Tamarindo) to 0.19% (Gualan). Multiple stems production ranged from 15000 (Cuyatenango) to 28750 stems ha'1 (sph) (Thailand) while biomass yields were 17.34 (Retalhuleu) to 27.73 t ha'1 (Belen Rivas), 72.99 (Retalhuleu) to 118.54 t ha'1 (Belen Rivas) for foliar and wood biomass respectively. For Gairo site, height ranged from 3.87 (Monterrico) to 4.39 m (Cuyatenango), foliar N concentration ranged from 3.68 (Kihonda) to 4.38% (Cuyatenango) while P concentration ranged 0.26 (Kihonda and Taxico) to 0.30% (Balen Rivas). Multiple stems production ranged from 27500 (Cuyatenango and Monterrico) to 33438 sph (Retalhuleu) while biomass yields were 13.72 (Monterrico) to 18.68 t ha'1 (Cuyatenango) and 60.76 (Monterrico) to 95.15 t ha'1 (Cuyatenango) for foliar and wood biomass respectively. For Kibaha site, heightiii ranged from 4.45 (Nigeria) to 5.26 m (Jutiapa), foliar N concentration ranged from 3.69 (Ibadan) to 3.93% (Jutiapa) while P concentration ranged from 0.20 (Ibadan) to 0.24% (Taxico). Multiple stems production ranged between 16563 (Jutiapa) to 22031 sph (Nigeria) while biomass yields were 15.45 (Nigeria) to 20.19 t ha'1 (Cuyatenango), 37.26 (Nigeria) to 49.15 t ha'1 (Cuyatenango) for foliar and wood biomass respectively. Based on the findings, provenances Balen Rivas. Cuyatenango and Juliapa arc recommended for SUA farm: Cuyatenango and Taxico for Gairo: and Cuyatenango and Jutiapa for Kibaha. Further evaluation of these and other provenances on resistance to pests and disease, nitrogen fixation and coppicing ability for various conditions in Tanzania are recommended. In addition, more studies to compare performance of other G. sepiuni provenances in more contrasting sites should be undertaken.

Description

Dissertation

Keywords

Growth evaluation, Gliricidia sepium, Biomass production, SUA farm

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