Regeneration and Propagation of Sclerocarya Birrea (A
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Regeneration and Propagation of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. Tree in Rashad Area at Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan State By Massaud Mohamed Massaud B.Sc. – Forestry Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, June 2001 Thesis Submitted to the University of Khartoum in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Forestry) Supervisor: Dr. Daldoum Mohamed Ahmed Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry University of Khartoum November - 2007 DEDICATION I dedicate this work to soul of my father. To my mother, brother, sisters, wife and my kids for their moral support, kindness and patience during the course of my study. i Acknowledgments I would like to express my thanks and appreciations to all who helped and cooperated in this work. Special thanks and deep appreciations to Dr. Daldoum Mohamed Ahmed for his supervision of this study and for his pacience and friendy encouragement throughout the study period. My thanks and appreciations to Dr. Bashir Awad Eltahir, my co-supervisor for his support, encouragement and comments during the study period. Deep thank for Dr. Mohamed Elmukhtar Ballal National Gum Arabic Coordenator – Elobeid Research Station for his advices. My thanks and appreciations to Dr. Abdalla Ahmed Elfiel Faculty of Forest, University of Sudan, Soba, for his help and advices. Deep thanks to Mr. El-Nour Ahmed Mohamed El-Hag Forest Manager of South Kordofan State, and previous Manager Mr. Hamd El-Niel Rushash for their support, help and encouragement. Deep thanks to Mr. Idris Musa for his countinuously support and encouragement. I extend my thanks to Mr. Abbas Hassan Ali and Mr. Hatim Abdalla for their help. My thanks an encouragement to my colleagues Saad Khalfalla, Abdelrhman Hassan Faddol for help and encouragement. Thanks are also extented to Rashad forest staff for their assistance during the field work. I express my deep appreciations to my wife and children for their patience and moral encouragement and support. ii Table of Contents page Dedication…………………………………………………………………... i Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………... ii Table of Contents…………………………………………………………… iii List of Tables……………………………………………………………….. v List of Figures………………………………………………………………. vi List of Plates………………………………………………………………… vii Abstract (English)…………………………………………………………... viii Abstract (Arabic)……………………………………………………………. xii Chapter 1……………………………………………………………..……. 1 Introduction………………………………………………………………... 1 1.1 Background……………………………………………………………… 1 1.2 Problem statement………………………………………………………. 5 1.3 Objectives of the study………………………………………………….. 5 Chapter 2…………………………………………………………………... 7 Literature Review………………………………………………………….. 7 2.1 Taxonomy and botanical description of S. birrea……………………… 7 2.2 Distribution……………………………………………………………... 8 2.3 Physical requirements…………………………………………………... 8 2.3.1 Elevation……………………………………………………………… 8 2.3.2 Geology and soils……………………………………………………... 9 2.3.3 Rainfall………………………………………………………………... 9 2.3.4 Temperature regime…………………………………………………... 12 2.4 Biology………………………………………………………………….. 13 2.4.1 Germination and juvenile development………………………………. 13 iii 2.4.2 Phenology……………………………………………………………... 14 2.5 Propagation……………………………………………………………... 15 2.5.1 Seed handling and propagation……………………………………….. 15 2.5.2 Vegetative propagation……………………………………………….. 17 2.6 Utilization……………………………………………………………….. 20 Chapter 3…………………………………………………………………... 24 Materials and Methods……………………………………………………. 24 3.1 Study site………………………………………………………………... 24 3.1.1 Location………………………………………………………………. 24 3.1.2 Climate………………………………………………………………... 24 3.1.3 Geology and soils……………………………………………………... 25 3.1.4 Vegetation…………………………………………………………….. 26 3.1.5 Population and landuse……………………………………………….. 26 3.2 Experimentation and data collection……………………………………. 28 3.2.1 Assessment of natural stands and regeneration of S. birrea………….. 28 3.2.2 Regeneration of S. birrea by direct seed sowing……………………... 29 A/ Seed broadcasting………………………………………………………... 30 B/ Seed pit sowing………………………………………………………….. 31 C/ Seedling transplantation…………………………………………………. 31 3.3 Soil analysis…………………………………………………………….. 33 3.4 Statistical analysis of data………………………………………………. 34 Chapter 4…………………………………………………………………... 35 Results and Discussions…………………………………………………… 35 4.1 Soil characterization of the study area………………………………….. 35 4.2 Natural regeneration assessment of S. birrea…………………………... 39 4.2.1 Natural regeneration of S. birrea as affected by the sites…………… 39 iv 4.2.2 Effects of aspects on natural regeneration……………………………. 40 4.2.3 Effects of altitude on growth of S. birrea…………………………… 44 4.3 Regeneration of S. birrea by broadcasted seeds in fenced and unploughed plots………………………………………………………. 48 4.4 Regeneration of S. birrea by seeds in prepared and fenced land……….. 50 4.4.1 Germination of S. birrea seeds………………………………………... 50 4.4.2 Temporal development of height and diameter growth of S. birrea seedlings of seed origin………………………………………………... 51 4.4.3 Assessment of growth parameters of S. birrea seedlings of seed origin…………………………………………………………………... 54 4.5 Regeneration of S. birrea by seedlings in prepared and fenced land…… 57 4.5.1 Temporal development of height and diameter growth of S. birrea seedlings of seedling origin……………………………………………. 57 4.5.2 Assessment of growth parameters of S. birrea seedlings of seedling origin…………………………………………………………………... 59 4.6 Comparison of some growth parameters between S. birrea seedlings of seed and seedling origins raised in three soil preparation methods…… 62 Chapter 5…………………………………………………………………... 67 Conclusions and Recommendations……………………………………… 67 5.1 Conclusions……………………………………………………………... 67 5.2 Recommendations……………………………………………………..... 67 References………………………………………………………………….. 68 v List of Tables Page Table 1: Mean annual rainfall, temperature and relative humidity in Rashad District during the period 1997 – 2006………….…………… 25 Table 2: Some physical and chemical properties of the land preparation plots…………………………………………………………………... 38 Table 3: Assessment of S. birrea population and regeneration in the natural stands in the studied sites; values are averages per 0.1ha sample plot………………………………………………………….… 42 Table 4: Effects of aspects on natural regeneration of S. birrea; values are averages per 0.1ha sample plot……………………………………..… 43 Table 5: Effects of elevation on natural regeneration of S. birrea………… 47 Table 6: Seed germination and survival of seedlings of S. birrea raised by broadcasting in protected plots (Area of plot = 0.1ha)….………….… 49 Table 7: Germination records of S. birrea seeds sown in different soil preparation methods………………………………………………….. 52 Table 8: Assessment of growth parameters of S. birrea seedlings of seed origin as affected by soil preparation methods……………………….. 56 Table 9: Assessment of growth parameters of S. birrea seedlings of seedling origin as affected by soil preparation methods……………... 61 vi List of Figures Page Figure 1: Sudan vegetation divisions map (Sahni, 1968)…………………... 2 Figure 2: Distribution of S. birrea; green subsp. birrea, red subsp. caffra and blue multifoliolata (Peter, 1988)…………………………………... 10 Figure 3: Distribution of S. birrea with respect to elevation (Peter, 1988)… 11 Figure 4: Distribution of S. birrea in relation to rain fall (Peter, 1988)…….. 12 Figure 5: Temporal height growth of S. birrea seedlings of seed origin raised in different soil preparation methods…………………………… 53 Figure 6: Temporal diameter growth of S. birrea seedlings of seed origin raised in different soil preparation methods…………………………… 53 Figure 7: Temporal height growth of S. birrea seedlings of seedling origin raised in different soil preparation methods…………………………… 58 Figure 8: Temporal diameter growth of S. birrea seedlings of seedling origin raised in different soil preparation methods…………………….. 58 Figure 9: Shoot lengths of S. birrea seedlings of seed and seedling origin raised in different methods of soil preparations……………………….. 64 Figure 10: Root lengths of S. birrea seedlings of seed and seedling origin raised in different methods of soil preparations……………………… 64 Figure 11: Diameter of S. birrea seedlings of seed and seedling origin raised in different methods of soil preparations……………………….. 65 Figure 12: Shoot dry weight of S. birrea seedlings of seed and seedling origin raised in different methods of soil preparations………………… 65 Figure 13: Root dry weight of S. birrea seedlings of seed and seedling origin raised in different methods of soil preparations………………… 66 vii List of Plates page Plate 1: Natural stand of S. birrea trees at Rashad District, Nuba Mountains, Southern Kordofan State………………………………… 27 Plate 2: Adult S. birrea subsp. birrea in full foliage on the left and ripen fruits on the right……………………………………………………... 28 Plate 3: Natural regeneration assessment procedure………………………. 30 Plate 4: Plots showing seedlings of S. birrea raised by direct seed sowing and seedling transplantation………………………………………….. 32 viii Abstract Title: Regeneration and Propagation of S. birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. Tree in Rashad Area at Nuba Mountains – South Kordofan State, Sudan A multi-location experiments were carried out for two seasons (2005– 2006) to study the germination, establishment and survival of S. birrea artificially and in the natural state at Rashad locality (latitudes 10° and 13° N and longitudes 29° and 33° E), Nuba mountains, South Kordofan State. Three experiments were conducted in the above area. The first experiment was the assessment of natural regeneration of the species under natural stand where transect