Effect of different seed treatment methods on the germination of Senna obtusifolia in Sudan savanna ecosystem, Nigeria

Abstract

Breaking seed dormancy is commonly practiced in phanerogamia for seedling production but is conducted in different forms depending on the type of seed coat and other factors that hinder successful seed germinability. It is against this background that laboratory germination test was conducted at the Agric. Chemical Laboratory of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto for 36 days period and determined 3 days soaking (86.66 %), 15 minutes hot water (96.67%) and 15 minutes chemical (H₂S0₄) (73.32%) methods as the best germination test for seed germinability of S. obtusifolia. The field experiment in turn revealed that germination percentages obtained were 51.11 % at fadama habitat and also 47.22% in S. obtusifolia at upland location. These were carried out to produce good young and matured leaves samples for nutritional chemical analysis. Therefore, the best methods determined were recommended for practice in the seedling production of the study species and it’s allied.