Effect of watering regime and mycorrhizal inoculation on the growth of Baobab (Adansonia digitata)

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of watering regime and mycorrhizal inoculation on the growth of Adansonia digitata L. seedlings. Seedlings were inoculated with ectomycorrhizae (M0), endomycorrrhizae (M1), non-inoculated (M2) and subjected to three levels of watering; daily (W0), every other day (W1) and once a week at pot capacity (W2). The experimental design used was split plot experiment where mycorrhizal inoculation was the main plot treatment while watering regime was the subplot treatment. Nine experimental treatments were arranged in a 3×3 factorial experimental design and replicated 5 times. Morphological parameters such as the leaf number, collar diameter, shoot height, shoot weight, root weight as well as physiological parameters such as dry weight, fresh weight, and relative water content were measured. Data obtained were taken fortnightly for a period of 12 weeks and subjected to one-way analysis of variance. The significant mean values were compared and separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The result indicated that shoot height (9.13 ± 8.39 cm) was significantly different (p>0.05) when watered once a week. There was no significant difference in seedling relative water content among the treatments. The study suggests that the seedling growth of Adansonia digitata could be enhanced by ectomycorrhizal inoculation and daily watering.