Abstract

Study of survival rate of root pruned wildlings and coppice shoots growth in Garcinia(G.) kola was conducted in FRIN. G. kola wildings were collected under 28-year-old plantation, and classified into six treatments, namely: two leaves (T₁), four leaves (T₂), six leaves (T₃) eight leaves (T₄), wildlings with branch (T₅) and untreated wildlings (control) (T6.  Root pruning was carried out in all treatments except the control, completely randomized design (CRD) was adopted. Growth characteristics: survival rates, height, collar diameter and leaf number were assessed monthly for four months. 120 saplings of G. kola aged sixteen months were cut at four different stump heights, growth attributes: inception of coppice, shoot number, shoots height, number of leaves, shoot diameter and stump diameter were monitored for four months and (CRD) was used. Results showed significant differences among the root pruned wildlings treatments in height and collar diameter; no significant differences in survival rates and leaf number among various treatments. Results showed that inception of coppice, shoot number, coppice shoot and stump diameters were significantly different among the stumped G. kola saplings; however, no significant difference in shoot height, leaf number and coppice branch among various treatments. Root pruning influenced seedling height and collar diameter growth more than it influenced the survival rates and leaf production in G. kola wildling.  The study revealed that G. kola saplings have capacity to coppice at the stump heights investigated; however, stump height significantly influenced the growth of coppice shoots.

Key Words: Garcinia kola, Wilding, Coppice, Sapling, Growth attribute