Comparative effect of different potting media on the early growth of entandophragma angolense

The study investigated the effects of different potting media on the early growth of Entandophragma angolense with the view to producing viable and vigorous planting stock of the species for plantation establishment. The layout comprised of nine treatments of potting media prepared from forest topsoil, river, Sand, cow-dung, and poultry manure in varying ratios. The treatment was replicated nine times in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Height, stem diameter, leaf production was assessed fortnightly for six weeks. The results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatment in shoot height, stem diameter, leaf production, and biomass yield. Treatment 3 (T3) gave the best result in terms of shoot height, 26.89cm, stem diameter, 3.20mm, while Treatment 7 (T7) had the highest leaf production 27.52, and Treatment 6 (T6) had the highest biomass production of 5.52g. However, Treatment 8 (T8) gave the minimum results of mean height, 9.12cm, stem diameter 0.19mm, leaf production, 5.69, and biomass production of 1.01g. The study, therefore, showed that the incorporation of an optimum level of organic manure into the potting media resulted in the growth improvement of Entandophragma angolense seedlings