Although there has been remarkable research on domestication of baobab (Adansonia digitata), its early growth using fertilizer at different application levels is still not well known. This study aimed at investigating an ideal NPK fertilizer application level on early growth of A. digitata. The study was conducted in the forest nursery from 23 November to 24 May 2020. A. digitata seeds collected from Namalaka in Mangochiwere directly sown polythene tubes of a 15 × 24 cm size. Four treatments of different compound D NPK fertiliser levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 g plant-1) consisting of 10 tubes per treatment were arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 replicates each. Results showed significant differences among treatments for the various growth parameters with 20 g plant-1 giving the highest number of leaves, root collar diameter, plant height, tuber length, tuber diameter, tuber weight, leaf diameter and length for all treatments. The study concluded that the best baobab growth response is achieved using an NPK level of 20 g plant-1 in the nursery environment. Notwithstanding, a study on fertilizer application levels involving different seed sources should be conducted in reference to this study for more comprehensive fertilizer application effect on baobab seedlings.
Cite this paper
Ndong, N. , Mhango, J. , Ngulube, E. and Thaddeus, Z. (2024). Evaluation of Different Fertilizer Application Levels on Early Growth of Baobab Seedlings in Malawi. Open Access Library Journal, 11, e1709. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111709.
Macoumba, D., Samba, A.N.S., Samba, A.N.S., Ousmane, N. and Patrick, V.D. (2015) Difference in Germination Rate of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Provenances Contrasting in Their Seed Morphometrics When Pretreated with Concentrated Sulfuric Acid. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 10, 1412-1420. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajar2014.9426
Sanchez, A.C. (2011) The Status of Baobab Tree Populations in Southern Malawi: Implications for Further Exploitation. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 20, 157-173. https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2011.9756704
Salim, A.S., Simons, A.J., Waruhiu, A., Orwa, C. and Anyango, C. (1998) Agroforestree Database: A Tree Species Reference and Selection Guide. Version 1.0 CD-ROM.
Msalilwa, U.L., Ndakidemi, P.A., Makule, E.E. and Munishi, L.K. (2020) Demography of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Population in Different Land Uses in the Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania. Global Ecology and Conservation, 24, e01372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01372
Mukhtar, R.B., Isah, A.D., Bello, A.G. and Aliero, A.A. (2016) Vegetative Propagation of Adansonia digitata (L.) Using Juvenile Stem Cuttings, Various Rooting Media and Hormone Concentrations. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 8, 95-100.
Akinnifesi, F.K., Sileshi, G., Ajayi, O.C., Chirwa, P.W., Kwesiga, F.R. and Harawa, R. (2008) Contributions of Agroforestry Research and Development to Livelihood Of Small-holder Farmers in Southern Africa: 2. Fruit, Medicinal, Fuelwood and Fodder Tree Systems. Journal of Agricultural, 3, 76-88.
Kalaba, F.K., Chirwa, P.W. and Prozesky, H. (2009) The Contribution of Indigenous Fruit Trees in Sustaining Rural Livelihoods and Conservation of Natural Resources. Journal of Horticulture and Forestry, 1, 1-6.
Amosi, N. (2018) Value Chain Analysis of Baobab Products for Improved Marketing and Sustainability of Their Trade in Malawi. Master’s Thesis, Mzuzu University.
Singh, S., Rai, S. and Khan, S. (2010) In Vitro Seed Germination of Adansonia digitata L.: An Endangered Medicinal Tree. Nanobiotechnica Universale, 1, 107-112.
Lal, R. (2004) Soil Carbon Sequestration Impacts on Global Climate Change and Food Security. Science, 304, 1623-1627. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1097396
El-Bably, S.M. and Rashed, N.M. (2018) Influence of Pre Germination Treatments on Overcoming Seed Dormancy and Seedling Growth of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.). Zagazig Journal of Agricultural Research, 45, 465-476.
Chia, A.M., Iortsuun, D.N. and Carthage, B.A. (2010) Studies on the Seedling Growth of Adansonia digitata AL. Science World Journal, 3, 21-24. https://doi.org/10.4314/swj.v3i1.51766
Jansen, L., et al. (2020) Variation in Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Root Tuber Development and Leaf Number among Different Growth Conditions for Five Provenances in Malawi. The Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, 121, 161-172.
Jenya, H. (2018) Phenotypic Characterization, Re-productive Biology and Vegetative Propagation of Adansonia Digitata l. Wild Populations in Malawi. Ph.D. Thesis, Mzuzu Uni-versity.
Egbadzor, K.F. and Akuaku, J. (2022) Prospects of Raising Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) to Fruiting in Two Years. Trees, Forests and People, 8, Article ID: 100232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2022.100232
Falemara, B.C., Chomini, M.S., Thlama, D.M. and Udenkwere, M. (2014) Pre-Germination and Dormancy Response of Adansonia digitata L Seeds to Pre-Treatment Techniques and Growth Media. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2, 13-23.
Rolli, E., Brunoni, F. and Bruni, R. (2014) An Optimized Method for in Vitro Propagation of African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Using Two-Node Segments. Plant Biosystems—An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 150, 750-756. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2014.991362
Kumar, B.M., Thomas, J. and Fisher, R.F. (2001) Ailanthus triphysa at Different Density and Fertiliser Levels in Kerala, India: Tree Growth, Light Transmittance and Understorey Ginger Yield. Agro-forestry Systems, 52, 133-144.
Razaq, M., Zhang, P., Shen, H. and Salahuddin, (2017) Influence of Nitrogen and Phos-phorous on the Growth and Root Morphology of Acer Mono. PLOS ONE, 12, e0171321. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171321
Walters, S.J., Harris, R.J., Daws, M.I., Gillett, M.J., Richardson, C.G., Tibbett, M., et al. (2021) The Benefits of Fertiliser Application on Tree Growth Are Transient in Restored Jarrah Forest. Trees, Forests and People, 5, Article ID: 100112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100112
Warkentin, B.P. (2008) Soil Structure: A History from Tilth to Habitat. Advances in Agronomy, 97, 239-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2113(07)00006-5
Güsewell, S. (2004) N: P Ratios in Terrestrial Plants: Variation and Functional Significance. New Phytologist, 164, 243-266. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01192.x
Masamba, K., Phiri, A.T., Mwenye, O., Chiipanthenga, M., Chipojola, F. and Mbewe, W. (2020) Prelim-inary Evaluation of Different Combinations of Inorganic and Humate Based Fertilizer on Yield of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Malawi. Asian Plant Research Journal, 5, 25-33.
Jacobs, D.F. and Timmer, V.R. (2005) Fertilizer-induced Changes in Rhizosphere Electrical Conductivity: Relation to Forest Tree Seedling Root System Growth and Function. New Forests, 30, 147-166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-005-6572-z
Reynolds, M., Atkin, O.K., Bennett, M., Cooper, M., Dodd, I.C., Foulkes, M.J., et al. (2021) Addressing Research Bottlenecks to Crop Productivity. Trends in Plant Science, 26, 607-630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2021.03.011
Bhattacharya, I., Bandyopadhyay, S., Varadachari, C. and Ghosh, K. (2007) Development of a Novel Slow-Releasing Iron？Manganese Fertilizer Compound. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 46, 2870-2876. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie060787n
Noaman, M. (2003) Effect of Potassium and Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Growth and Biomass of Some Halophytes Grown under High Levels of Salinity. Journal of Agronomy, 3, 25-30. https://doi.org/10.3923/ja.2004.25.30
Santos Silva, B., De Mello Prado, R., Calero Hurtado, A., Aparecida de Andrade, R. and Pereira da Silva, G. (2020) Ammonia Toxicity Affect Cations Uptake and Growth in Papaya Plants Inclusive with SILICON Addition. Acta Biológica Colombiana, 25, 345-353. https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v25n3.79490
Lasheen, F.F., Negm, A.H., Hassan, S.E., Azab, E., Gobouri, A.A. and Hewidy, M. (2021) Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium Application Rate on the Young Seedling Growth of Salvadora Persica. Agriculture, 11, Article 291. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11040291
Soliman, A.S., Hassan, M., Abou-Elell, F., Ah-med, A.H.H. and A. El-Feky, S. (2016) Effect of Nano and Molecular Phosphorus Fertilizers on Growth and Chemical Compo-sition of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.). Journal of Plant Sciences, 11, 52-60. https://doi.org/10.3923/jps.2016.52.60
Kamanula, M. (2018) Mineral and Phytochemical Composition of Baobab (Adan-sonia digitata L.) Root Tubers from Selected Natural Populations of Malawi. Malawi Medical Journal, 30, 250-255. https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v30i4.7
Akamine, H., Hossain, A., Ishimine, Y., Yogi, K., Hokama, K., Iraha, Y., et al. (2007) Effects of Application of N, P and K Alone or in Combination on Growth, Yield and Curcumin Content of Turmeric(Curcuma longa L.). Plant Production Science, 10, 151-154. https://doi.org/10.1626/pps.10.151
Mhango, J., Akinnifesi, F.K., Mng’omba, S.A. and Sileshi, G. (2008) Effect of Growing Medium on Early Growth and Survival of Uapaca kirkiana Müell Arg. seedlings in Malawi. African Journal of Biotechnology, 7, 2197-2202.
Tkaczyk, P., Mocek-Płóciniak, A., Skowrońska, M., Bednarek, W., Kuśmierz, S. and Zawierucha, E. (2020) The Mineral Fertilizer-Dependent Chemical Parameters of Soil Acidification under Field Conditions. Sustainability, 12, Article 7165. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177165
Geisseler, D., Ortiz, R.S. and Diaz, J. (2022) Nitrogen Nutrition and Fertilization of Onions (Allium cepa L.)—A Literature Review. Scientia Horticulturae, 291, Article ID: 110591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110591
Ameen, M. (2019) Effect of Phosphoric Acid and Potassium Humate on Growth and Yield of Maize in Saline-Sodic Soil. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 56, 781-790. https://doi.org/10.21162/pakjas/19.8151
Dong, W., Zhang, X., Wang, H., Dai, X., Sun, X., Qiu, W., et al. (2012) Effect of Different Fertilizer Application on the Soil Fertility of Paddy Soils in Red Soil Region of Southern China. PLOS ONE, 7, e44504. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0044504
Ubi, W., Ubi, M. and Akpanidiok, A. (2013) Effect of NPK Fertilizer and Interval Management on the Chemical Properties of Coastal Plain Sands of Akpabuyo, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 12, 73-79. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjass.v12i1.10
Tian, D. and Niu, S. (2015) A Global Analysis of Soil Acidifi-cation Caused by Nitrogen Addition. Environmental Research Letters, 10, Article ID: 024019. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/10/2/024019
Chaturvedi, I. (2005) Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Hybrid Rice (Oryza sativa). Journal of Central European Agriculture, 6, 611-618.
Starast, M., Karp, K. and Vool, E. (2008) Effect of NPK Fertilization and Elemental Sulphur on Growth and Yield of Lowbush Blueberry. Agricultural and Food Science, 16, 34-45. https://doi.org/10.2137/145960607781635859
Oyedeji, S. (2023) Plant Adaptations in Dry Tropical Biomes. In: Tripathi, S., Bhadouria, R., Srivastava, P., Singh, R. and Devi, R.S., Eds., Ecophysiology of Tropical Plants, CRC Press, 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003335054-2
Campos, V. (2002) Arsenic in Groundwater Affected by Phosphate Fertilizers at São Paulo, Brazil. Environmental Geology, 42, 83-87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-002-0540-0
