Abstract:
Rooted cuttings of cottonwood (Populus euroame-ricana) were grown in three different soil mixes. Soil mi,,x A contains 75% peat and 25% fine sand, mix B contains 75% peat, 25% fine and sand and 3. 3kg of Viterra/m3 of mix while mix C contains 50% peat and 50% fine sand. The plants were watered daily for four weeks and the height gains by plants measured. At the end of 4 weeks watering was stopped and two plants from mixes A and B were selected and observed for the length of survival without watering. Results showed that height gains due to weeks of watering and soil mix are both significant at the 1% level with LSD (0.01) of 6. 9cm and 5.5cm and 5.5cm respectively. However, height gains for soil mixes A and C were higher than the Viterra treated soil mix B. Result on the water retaining ability of Viterra showed that the plant in Viterra treated mix continued normal growth for over 8 days while the plant in the untreated mix died 6 days while the plant in the untreated mix died 6 days after watering was stopped. The results show that Viterra 2 does not aid the growth of plants but has a high capacity to hold water for gradual release to plants. It is therefore recommended not as an aid to plant growth but for water conservation especially in the arid and semi arid zones of the tropics.
Page(s):
191-196
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Forestry, Volume: 37, Issue: 4, Year: 1987