article · Journal of Experimental Agriculture International
A six-month nursery trial evaluated the effects of container materials and sizes on four woody tree species commonly used for reforestation in semi-arid environments. Researchers tested soil blocks, plastic bags, and woven palm leaf baskets across small and medium formats on Adansonia digitata, Leucaena leucocephala, Tamarindus indica, and Sclerocarya birrea. The findings revealed that container selection significantly affected seedling height, collar diameter, and overall biomass accumulation. Across all species, medium-sized palm leaf baskets and medium-sized plastic bags delivered superior growth and biomass compared to other formats. Medium palm leaf baskets achieved the greatest heights in Leucaena leucocephala and Sclerocarya birrea, as well as the highest root biomass in Tamarindus indica. Medium plastic bags produced the largest diameter in Adansonia digitata. Overall, larger container volumes stimulated better root development, backing the use of biodegradable palm leaf baskets for raising higher-quality nursery stock.
Reforestation in drylands relies on high-quality seedlings that can endure harsh conditions after transplanting. By showing that biodegradable palm leaf baskets perform as well as or better than plastic bags, this work highlights an environmentally friendly alternative for tree nurseries. Utilising locally sourced biodegradable containers can boost seedling vigour, reduce plastic waste, and potentially increase tree survival rates during land restoration initiatives.
The findings offer applied guidance for commercial forestry nurseries, restoration practitioners, and seedling producers seeking alternatives to single-use plastics. By validating medium-sized palm leaf baskets against plastic bags, the work supports commercial production of local biodegradable pots. This application is tested and applied at the nursery stage, though field transplanting trials remain necessary to confirm longer-term performance in restoration projects.
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Reforestation success depends heavily on the quality of transplanted seedlings. Seedling quality can be influenced by the nursery containers in which they are grown. The study assessed the effect of three container types (soil block, plastic bag containers and palm leaf basket containers) in two sizes (small and medium formats) on the in-nursery height and diameter growth, biomass (above- and below-ground) and survival over six months of four woody species (Adansonia digitata, Leucaena leucocephala, Tamarindus indica and Sclerocarya birrea) useful for reforestation in semi-arid ecosystems. The study was conducted at the experimental nursery of the Saria Research Station, Burkina Faso. The results showed that the container types significantly influenced the growth in diameter and height as well as the accumulation of biomass (P<0.001) of the studied plants. Medium-sized palm leaf basket containers (MPL) and medium-sized plastic bag containers (MPB) yielded the highest growth and biomass performance in all species. The MPL containers yielded maximum heights of 155.02±45.03 cm for L. leucocephala and 73.45±27.33 cm for S. birrea, and maximum diameters of 8.29±3.39 mm for L. leucocephala. The MPB containers induced diameters reaching 9.67±2.50 mm in A. digitata. A root biomass of 4.76±3.20 g was recorded in T. indica when grown in MPL containers. These results indicate that, regardless of the type of container, the use of a medium-sized container promotes optimal root development and increased growth of nursery-grown plants. These observations support the adoption of large biodegradable containers to improve the quality of replanted tree seedlings. This has potential to enhance outcomes of reforestation efforts, for the sustainable restoration of degraded land in semi-arid ecosystems. However, it will be important to assess the effect of these different containers on the survival and growth of these woody species after field (reforestation) transplanting to draw clearer conclusions about field performance.
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DOI: 10.9734/jeai/2026/v48i94451
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