Sustainable Scarification of Leucaena leucocephala Seeds with Water for Improved Germination

摘要

Leucaena leucocephala plant has great potential in crop production as well as in livestockrnproduction. L. lencocephala is a source of livestake for crops like yam bringing about a guaranteedrnsource of stakes. Prunings from such stakes are sources of organic material in farms, leading tornimproved soil fertility, and reducing the need for fertilizer thereby minimizing the cost of production.rnThe plant fixes nitrogen in the soil. In livestock production, the plant is a source of high qualityrnnutrients for ruminants and is suitable as year round feed because of its drought resistance,rnpersistence, vigorous growth and regrowth and palatability. In spite of the benefits derivable from L.rnlencocepha, it is difficult to propagate both from seeds and stem cuttings. This study was set up torninvestigate the germination response of the seed of L. lencocephala to hot water and boiling waterrntreatments. The seeds were immersed in hot water or boiling water for 1, 2, 3, and 4 minutesrnrespectively. Also investigated was the condition (light or dark) in which lencaena seeds wouldrngerminate better. Immersing lencaena seeds in boiling water for 1-4 minutes did not result in anyrngermination. Untreated seeds had 0% and 13.3% germination at 21 days after planting (DAP) forrnlight and dark conditions respectively. Hot water treatment at one minute eventually recorded 100%rngermination irrespective of the condition of germination. Hot water treatments at 2 and 3 minutesrneach recorded 93.3% and 100% germinations in light and dark conditions respectively. Hot waterrntreatment for 1-3 minutes is recommended; their response were similar at 21 DAP, they recorded 80rn– 100% germination.