An assessment of the suitability of soil amendment polymer for tree crop growing
An assessment of the suitability of soil amendment polymer for tree crop growing
F. O. C. Nwonwu
ABSTRACT
Rooted cuttings of cottonwood (Populus euroamericana) were grown in three different soil mixes. Soil mix A contains 75% peat and 25% find sand, mix B contains 75% peat, 25% fine and sand and 3.3 kg of Vitera/m3 of mix while mix while Contain 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 week 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 6.9 cm and 5.5cm respectively. However height gains for soil mixes A and C were higher then the Viterra treated soil mix B. Result on the water retaining ability of Viterra showed that the plan in Viterra treated mix continued normal growth for over 8 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 there for recommended not as an aid to plant growth but for water conservation especially in
the arid semi arid zones of the tropics.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
December 1987
Vol. 37, Iss. 4
