NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY
EFFECTS OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON EARLY GROWTH OF TAMARIND (TAMARINDUS INDICAL)
Nigerian Journal of Forestry, 49 (1) 51 - 57
Adelani, D.O., Olorukooba, M. M. and Suleiman, R. (2019) .
Nursery experiments were conducted during the dry and wet seasons of 2015 to 2016 at Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, Nigeria with the objective to evaluate the effects of organic fertilizers on the growth of Tamarindus indica, in order to meet population demand of this endangered species for agroforestry systems. The experiments were laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five replicates to assess the effects of organic fertilizers on the growth of T. indica in both dry and wet seasons. Result revealed that highest height (24.76cm)., significant number of leaflet (80.60)., widest girth (0.30cm) and significant leaflet area (14.60cm2) were recorded from seedlings planted in soil amended with 30g each of rabbit droppings, rabbit droppings, pig droppings and rabbit droppings respectively during dry season. Significant height (30.08cm)., significant number of leaflets (151.40)., widest girth (0.33cm) and significant leaflet area (15.50cm2) were recorded from seedlings planted in the soil amended with 30g each of rabbit droppings, rabbit droppings, pig droppings and rabbit droppings respectively during wet season. Highest nutrient composition values of 0.15% (N), 5.46mg/kg (P) and 32.37% (K) were recorded for pig droppings, rabbit droppings and goat droppings respectively. Rabbit droppings significantly (P<0.05) enhances the growth of T. indica seedlings. Planting of T. indica seedlings in rabbit droppings in both seasons is recommended for agro-forestry systems.