Effect of organic fertilization rate and planting date on Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit seed germination and some growth indicators

Abstract

The study of seed germination and seedling growth of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) in three different dates(5,26 March,16April)and three fertilization rates (control,5%,10%)was carried out in the nursery of Faculty of Agriculture – Damascus university in 2019.The seeds were sown in polyethylene bags15cm.The results of the statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in germination percentage between the sowing dates and the third date was significantly higher (90.56%) than the other two dates ,and  the second date was higher(72.22%)than the first date ,while there were no significant differences among the fertilization rates.The fertilization treatment in the control,5%and10%,was significantly higher in the third date(91.67%, 91.67% and 88.33%, respectively)than in the previous two dates .As for the plant height,diameter and number of leaves,the fertilization treatment10%was  significantly superior (177.17 cm,15.75 mm, 52.69 leaves, respectively) than the other two treatments,While there were no significant differences between the dates in relation to the height of the plant.The first date was significantly higher than the other dates by stem diameter index and number of leaves respectively(15.91mm, 54.75 leaves).Fertilization treatment10%was higher at the first date of plant height(187.25 cm) and stem diameter (16.86 mm) than the other treatments.