Effect of Pre-sowing Treatment on Seed Germination and Seedlings Growth Attributes of Acacia Catechu Willd. in Nursery and Field Conditions

The germination percentage of Acacia catechu Willd. seeds were tested with four pre-sowing treatments in the nursery of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute and growth performances of seedlings were determined both in nursery and field conditions. The germination test was conducted both in germination tray and nursery bed filled with mixture of soil and decomposed cow dung at a ratio of 3:1. The growth performance of seedlings were determined by transferring the 30-45 days old young seedlings from germination bed to polybags filled with soils and cow dung, followed by out planting in the field at six months old. Germination percentage was significantly (p<0.05) influenced by pre-sowing treatments and highest germination percentage (8081) was obtained in cold water treatment for 24 hours and lowest (62%) was in control. The survival percentage of seedlings was highest (88%) at 2.0 m x 2.0 m spacing in the field and the average height was more than 2.0 m after 24 months of outplanting. Therefore, pre-sowing treatment of Acacia catechu seed in cold water for 24 hours is suggested for nursery raising and six months old seedlings may be planted at 2.0 m x 2.0 m spacing in the field for successful plantations of the species. Key wordsAcacia catechu, pre-sowing treatment, germination percentage, survival, seedlings growth.