( PD 528/08 Rev.1 (F): Towards Sustainable Indigenous Mahogany
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PD 528/08 Rev.1 ( PD 528/08 Rev.1 (F): Towards sustainable indigenous Mahogany production in Ghana: Phase II, refining the silviculture “tool kit” and practical training for industrial-foresters and community farmers Assessing the effect of different media on the rooting of Khaya ivorensis and Khaya grandifoliola cuttings Sarfo, Y.2, Opuni-Frimpong, E.1 and Abebrese, I. K.2 1) Forestry Research Institute of Ghana 2) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology SUMMARY African Mahoganies are among the most valuable tropical timbers and important export in the international timber market. Currently, the international trade in Mahogany from Africa is limited and this is due in part to the decrease in sourcing natural grown Mahogany. The pressure of over exploitation mounted on Mahogany species has threatened its availability within the natural forest and therefore cited as vulnerable species. The establishment of mahogany plantations have produced enormous successes alternative to natural regeneration; however, the effectiveness of Mahogany plantation is being threatened by a destructive pest- Hypsipyla robusta. Existence of genotypes tolerant to the shoot borer therefore necessitates vegetative propagation in raising seedlings. This study investigated the influence of different rooting media on root formation, elongation and number in simple non-mist propagators using stem cuttings of African mahogany species: Khaya grandifoliola and Khaya ivorensis. It also assessed the survival rates of the two species in the different rooting media. Data on root development callusing, number and length of roots were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Khaya grandifoliola exhibited higher rooting ability than Khaya ivorensis. Rooting ability was highest (1.5cm) in the 20v biochar+40:40v mixture (Loam and river sand) medium for Khaya ivorensis while Khaya grandifoliola exhibited higher rooting ability (2.4cm) in the river sand medium. Root elongation was highest in 20v biochar+40:40v mixture (Loam and River sand) for both Khaya grandifoliola and Khaya ivorensis at 12.84cm and 7.17cm respectively. The study further revealed that biochar was the principal catalyst for the high survival rates in both species. This study strongly supports the idea that Khaya ivorensis and Khaya grandifoliola can be propagated vegetatively using stem cuttings which are important for ex-situ conservation and restoration of the mahogany species in Ghana’s forest estate. 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study African Mahoganies (Meliaceae) are among the most valuable tropical timbers and important export in the international timber market (Atuahene, 2001). They are mostly found in Cameroun, Niger, Cote D’Ivoire, Uganda and also common in the dry and wet semi deciduous forests of Ghana (Oteng-Amoako, 2006). Amongst some of the highly valuable Mahogany species in Ghana are Khaya ivorensis and Khaya grandifoliola. The heartwood of Mahogany is dark, red- brown, clearly demarcated from pinkish sapwood, coarse to medium texture with low luster and aromatic odour. This makes Mahogany species durable for making panelings, luxury cabinets and furniture works. The bark yields a brown dye and can also be used for cold and flu treatment as well as widely utilized in managing malaria (Taylor, 1960; Abbiw, 1990). The versatile nature of mahogany has brought about the increase in exportation over the years (FAO, 1993). Until the 1950’s, Mahogany timber formed up to 70% of the total export from Ghana with an annual volume of approximately 100,000m3 but since then its export has steadily declined (Opuni-Frimpong, 2008). Currently, the international trade in Mahogany from Africa is limited and this is due in part to the decrease in sourcing natural grown Mahogany. The limited nature of Mahogany therefore requires the appropriate technique in maintaining and sustaining the resource to meet both the present and future needs. Consequently, the establishment of mahogany plantations have produced enormous successes alternative to natural regeneration. However, the effectiveness of Mahogany plantation is being threatened by a destructive pest; Hypsipyla robusta (Newton et al. 1993). This threat caused by the shoot borer has raised concerns globally in securing measures to control its occurrence in plantations in order to reduce the attack to economically endurable level. As a result, ways of producing tolerant mahogany genotype to the shoot borer in plantation is the key to the success of the plantation initiative 1.2 The Problem Statement As international demand for Mahogany wood remains high, it is necessary to ensure a sustainable future supply. Forests in West Africa have undergone a dramatic change during the past one hundred years. As forest area has declined, it is very important to use the remaining natural resources wisely. Again, the pressure of over-exploitation has been mounted on mahogany species to the extent of threatening its availability within the natural forest and therefore cited as vulnerable species (IUCN, 2004). Moreover, natural regeneration of Mahogany species is limited as the seeds lose their viability between 2 and 3 weeks under natural conditions (Taylor, 1960). Also, the survival of the seedlings is poor under the forest canopy since Khaya species are light demanding (Hawthorne, 1990). Efforts to restore the depleted Mahogany resource base on plantations have been thwarted by persistent attacks of the Mahogany shoot borer; Hypsipyla robusta (Newton et al. 1993a). The Mahogany shoots borer (Hypsipyla robusta) is among the most economically important insect pests in tropical forestry, virtually preventing the cultivation of mahoganies (Swietenia spp., Khaya spp.) in their native areas. Mahogany trees are susceptible to attack when they reach a height of 0.5m (Griffiths 2001). The insect’s most severe damage occurs when a larva bores into and kills the terminal shoot. A lateral branch grows to replace the lost terminal shoot, resulting in 2 a crooked main stem. Also, the damage to the terminal breaks apical dominance, resulting in excessive lateral branching (Griffiths 2001). Small trees whose terminal shoots are attacked repeatedly in successive years become extremely deformed. 1.3 Justification The development of vegetative propagation techniques for the Mahoganies has important implications for the commercial regeneration of these species, which are seriously affected by the shoot borer; Hypsipyla robusta. It is known that by cloning, there may be the opportunity to capture and utilize genetic resistance to these pests and domesticate them (Newton 1993a; Newton, et al., 1993b). Hence, a lot of research is advocated for in determining some factors that would promote the effectiveness of the method to be greatly employed on commercial planting. Studies have been done concerning the influence of the leaf area, age of stock plant, applications of IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) in different percentages on most of the Khaya species (Opuni Frimpong et al., 2008b). Currently, a most promising factor which has been known to play a role in higher rooting success of some timber species such as Khaya senegalenses and Khaya ivorensis in the vegetative propagation system is the type of rooting medium used (Tchoundjeu and Leakey 1996; Limpiyaprapant et al. 1996). Unfortunately, there is limited information on the type of rooting medium to facilitate the rooting success of the Mahogany species in the vegetative propagation system. In order to know the appropriate type of rooting medium to enhance successful rooting of Khaya ivorensis and Khaya grandifoliola, this research concentrated on biochar combined with three rooting media: loamy soil, river sand and mixture of river sand and loam. Biochar serves as a catalyst that enhances plant uptake of nutrients and water. Compared to other soil amendments, the high surface area and porosity of biochar enables it to adsorb or retain nutrients and water and also provide a habitat for beneficial microorganisms to flourish (Glaser et al., 2002, Lehmann and Rondon 2006, Warnock et al., 2007). 1.4 Research Objectives The objectives of this study were: 1. To determine the rooting response of Khaya ivorensis and Khaya grandifoliola in 20v biochar treatment with: 80v loamy soil, 40:40v/v mixtures (river sand and loamy soil) and 80v river sand. 2. To determine the survival rate of Khaya ivorensis and Khaya grandifoliola in the different rooting media. 3. To determine the effect of biochar treatment in propagation of the two species. 3 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 Study Site The experiment was carried out at the trail site of the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG). FORIG is located at Fumesua, 15 km from Kumasi on the Kumasi-Accra high way in the moist semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana with geographical location; 6 44’N, 1 30’W and relief 280 m above sea level. It has an annual precipitation ranging between 1200-1750 mm per annum (Hall and Swaine, 1981). ⁰ ⁰ 2.2 Stem Cuttings Preparation and Propagation Setup Plant material sources for stem cuttings of the two species; Khaya ivorensis and Khaya grandifoliola was collected from Mesewam nursery site, one of FORIG’s nursery and research sites. These materials from actively growing shoot were then dissected into single node cuttings approximately to length of 6cm. Stem cuttings were collected only in the morning hours (between 7-9 am) and then enclosed in a polythene bags to maintain a humid atmosphere (Agbo and Obi, 2007). The stem cuttings were then taken to one of the trial sites of FORIG for propagation. The media for the trial were river sand collected from streamside, loamy soil and 40:40 v/v mixture of river sand and loamy soil. Each media had an equal 20 v of biochar treatment. The media was prepared by pasteurization (Scalabrelli et al., 1983) and then disinfected with Dursban 4E to kill termites in the soils that might temper with the rooting of cuttings. The addition of biochar was to determine the varied volume effect to the rooting media. Rooting hormone was not applied.