Growth characteristics of two tropical forest species Warburgia ugandensis and Polyscias fulva seedlings grown under contrasting light conditions
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Date
2008Author
Kinyamario, J I
Wang’ombe, T P
Wanyondu, J
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
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Growth parameters for seedlings of two forest trees, Warburgia ugandensis and Polyscias fulva, were
measured under various light growth conditions. Leaf area and plant height were significantly higher
under low light (< 42% full sunlight) than high light (65% of sunlight) growth conditions (P<0.001). Plant
leaf area ranged from 238 cm² under full sunlight to 376 cm² under dense shade in P. fulva and from 33
cm² under full sunlight to 178 cm² under dense shade in W. ugandensis. Plant heights ranged from
about 20 mm under full sunlight to 38 mm under dense shade in P. fulva; and from about 36 mm under
full sunlight to 89 mm under dense shade in W. ugandensis. P. fulva had more leaves than W.
ugandensis but both species increased their leaf numbers from 28 (full sunlight) to 37 (dense shade)
and 21 (full sunlight) to 29 (dense shade) respectively (P< 0.05). P. fulva accumulated more biomass
(from 4 to about 9g) than W. ugandensis (from 0.6 to 2.4g) under all light conditions (P<0.05). The
shoot/root ratios were highest (1.84 for P. fulva and 6.42 for W. ugandensis) under low light conditions
in the two species (P<0.05). Highest specific leaf areas were recorded under low light growth conditions
(198 cm² g-1 for P. fulva and 220 cm² g-1 for W. ugandensis). W. ugandensis was found to be more shade
tolerant than P. fulva.
Citation
Kinyamario, J. I., Wang’ombe, T. P., & Wanyondu, J. (2008). Growth characteristics of two tropical forest species Warburgia ugandensis and Polyscias fulva seedlings grown under contrasting light conditions. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2(1), 015-021.Publisher
University Of Nairobi