Influence of Humid Treatments on the Germination of Two Local Fruit Trees in Two Climate-smart Villages in the Sudano-Sahelian Part of Cameroon

Abstract

Abstract

The seeds of several agroforestry species are dormant, and their germination is important for the growth, development, and conservation of the species. To facilitate seed germination, this study determined the effect of moisture treatments on seed dormancy breaking of two species, Tamarindus indica and Adansonia digitata, in two climate-smart zones. For each location, 500g of seeds were set aside for each experimental treatment: the warm-moist treatment, the cold-moist treatment, and the control treatment. Germination rates were assessed over a 30-day period, and growth parameters were measured over a 30-day period. The trial was conducted over a two-month period. The best performance was achieved with the warm-moist treatment for both species identified in this study. The average germination rates obtained were 76% for tamarind and 69% for baobab. The best mean height values obtained varied from 15.39 cm for baobab to 12.59 cm for tamarind. As for the diameters, the average was 8.4 mm for baobab and 3.83 mm for tamarind. For the number of leaves, the best records were on average 5 leaves/plant for baobab and 4 for tamarind. The hot wet treatment was a better technique for regeneration and improving the sustainability of tamarind, baobab and other native species.