Growth response of mango (Mangifera indica) to potting media from different positions under acacia tree species canopy

Abstract

The soil under Acacia species is increasingly used in Namibia as growing media for nursery seedling production. A trial was conducted at the University of Namibia Ogongo Campus to determine the physicochemical properties of soil collected under different Acacia species and its effects on the growth of mango (Mangifera indica) seedlings. A split-split plot design with Acacia species (Acacia erioloba and Acacia nilotica) as main plot factor, the horizontal distance from the tree trunk (0–2 and 2–4 m) as subplot factor and the depth of collection (0–10 and 10–20 cm) as sub-sub plot factor was used. Soils were analysed for physicochemical properties; various growth characters of net house-grown mango seedlings were measured weekly for 4-month and subjected to parametric analysis of variance with appropriate error terms.The results showed that the soils collected under the Acacia species were predominantly sand, with 0.025–0.108% nitrogen, and 5.26–6.34 pH. Soil organic matter was higher within the 0–10-cm depth than within the 10–20-cm depth. Species by soil depth interaction was significant (p-value< 0.05). Conclusively, soils collected under the Acacia species can be used for raising mango seedlings with fertiliser supplementation.

Keywords: Chemical soil properties, mango seedlings, seedling growth, split-split plot design