Abstract

Inadequacy of modern physiological, silvicultural techniques leads to gap between availability of seeds and seedlings of agroforestry tree species, which consequently affect populace demand of their potentials in the world. There is need to develop modern physiological, silvicultural techniques to meet seedling production of agroforestry trees already eroded by increase in population and associated anthropogenic activities. Priming, coatings and pelleting techniques are promising advanced physiological and biochemical silvicultural treatments for enhancing maximum seed germination and seedling growth of priority exotic and indigenous agroforestry tree species. This paper reviews the pelleting, coatings potentials and priming techniques as hydro-priming, osmo-priming, halo-priming, thermo-priming, hormo-priming, sand-priming, organo-priming, hydro-photo priming, solid-matrix priming, bio-priming, drum- priming and nutri-priming and others. The inference from studies on common priming techniques revealed that hydro priming enhances seed germination of agroforestry trees relative to others. The advantages of seed pelletings and coatings as enhancement of the seed quality and reduction of the cost of seed production were mentioned. The thrust of this review further lends credence to the necessity to adopt advanced, modern physiological and biochemical treatment as primings, coatings and pelletings for embellishing seed germination and seedling growth of agroforestry tree species.

Key Words: Silvicultural treatment, Pelletings, Priming techniques, Modern physiological, Population demand