Growth Performance and Adaptive Strategy of Early Seedlings of Three Savanna Woody Species in Pots as Feedback to the Soil of Macrotermes Subhyalinus Mound

Abstract

Heterogeneous physiognomy and observed diversity of woody vegetation in savanna are considered as specific responses of seedling species during their growth to the given site characteristics changeable with time. Consequently, understanding early plant attitude using different growth soil is an important indicator in choosing species to introduce or to assist natural or artificial regeneration to the extent that establishment and productivity of plant species are not solely controlled by the effects of habitat modification and/or environmental resource availability but mostly by seedling quality. This study focused on comparative assessment of growth performance and adaptive traits of early seedlings of Balanites aegyptiaca, Diospyros mespiliformis and Tamarindus indica three multipurpose species between of Macrotermes subhyalinus mound and surrounding area in order to understand the attitudes of woody species hosted by termite mounds. Seedlings of similar age per species were grown in plastic bags as pots containing composite soils sampled till a depth of 30 cm on mounds and surrounding area in Tiogo state forest and of which the amount of retained water, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), assimilable phosphorus (ass. P) and potassium (K) were quantified prior to growth experiment. Height and collar diameter of seedling stems, final length and diameter of the main root were measured; the total dry biomass of root and shoot and, root to shoot ratio were evaluated for seedlings up to 5 months relating to the soil origin. Mean values of retained water and selected nutrients were higher for mound soil than for surrounding soil. Besides, the studied parameters of T. indica seedlings were significantly higher for mound soil than those recorded for surrounding soil (P<0.05) whereas seedlings of B. aegyptiaca and D. mespiliformis exhibited an increase final stem collar diameter and main root length on mound soil (P=0.039 and 0.028 respectively). Root to shoot ratio of B. aegyptiaca seedlings was positively correlated with great N content and that of D. mespiliformis seedlings with great concentration of Ca. Growth performance and adaptive traits of early seedlings of B. aegyptiaca, D. mespiliformis and T. indica were remarkable on M. subhyalinus mound soil compared to surrounding soil relating to the great level ofsoil fertility. Therefore, understanding the attitude of woody seedlings of local or exotic species is an important key in global plantation programs or assisting natural regeneration for biodiversity management and conservation.