EFFECTS OF VERMICAST APPLICATION TO THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF BITANGHOL (Calophyllum blancoi Pl. and Tr.) IN GRASSLAND

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 177 - 184, 18.06.2019

Eduardo, Jr. Espejon

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the percentage
survival and early growth performance of Bitanghol (Calophyllum blancoi) applied with varying levels of vermicast in an
open grassland. The experiment was laid out using randomized complete block
design (RCBD) consisting of three (3) replications with three (3) different
levels of vermicast treatment, 0 gram, 250 grams and 500 grams respectively.
Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in data
analysis. Results showed that survival of Bitanghol in grassland had no
significant difference in terms of vermicast application when analyzed
statistically, average survival after 4 months are as follows 0 gram vermicast
application 82%, 250 g vermicast application 84%, and 500 g vermicast
application of 83%.  Survival is mainly
influenced by climatic site factor, long dry periods greatly affects the
survival and growth of the outplanted seedlings as well as poor soil nutrient
availability in the area. Height growth increment of outplanted seedlings as
affected by different levels of vermicast showed insignificant difference when
tested using ANOVA. 250 g vermicast application showed the highest height
increment of 2.17 cm. followed by 500 g vermicast application and 0 g vermicast
application of 1.98 cm and 0.94 cm respectively. Diameter growth increment and
number of leaves of seedlings were not significantly affected with the
different levels of vermicast. It was found out that bitanghol seedlings
applied with 250 grams of vermicast showed relatively the same results compared
to 500 grams of vermicast application. Average diameter increment of
seedlings  as affected by different
levels of vermicast 0 g, 250, g , and 500 g is as follows 0.17 mm, 0.42 mm,
0.37 mm respectively. Average increment in number of leaves of seedlings as
affected by different levels of vermicast 0 g, 250 g, and 500 g is as follows
0.90, 1.90, and 1.56 respectively. No significant difference statistically in
terms of height, diameter and number of leaves is to be expected due to the
short time of observation as well as the slow releasing of available nutrients
of organic fertilizer, but still data showed promising results for 250 gram
vermicast application compared with 500 gram application to the growth of the
planted seedlings.

Keywords

Vermicast, Calophyllum blancoi, growth, survival, reforestation

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