article · OALib
Carapa grandiflora is a multipurpose tree valuable for timber, traditional medicine, and shoemaking crafts, but heavy exploitation threatens its survival. Because local propagation techniques remain poorly understood, an investigation tested mechanical and chemical pre-germination treatments to evaluate seed performance in the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon. The mechanical methods involved nicking and manual removal of the seed coat, while chemical methods involved soaking seeds in 50 percent concentrated sulphuric acid for one, three, or six minutes. Across all tests, the overall germination rate was 43.33 percent. Acid treatments exceeding one minute completely prevented germination. Nicking produced the highest germination rate at 62.2 percent and achieved the shortest latent period, followed by manual coat removal at 46.7 percent, whereas a one-minute acid soak resulted in only 30.0 percent germination. Early growth differences among the emerging seedlings were not statistically significant.
Over-harvesting of African crabwood for timber, crafts, and traditional medicine puts the species at risk of severe depletion. Establishing straightforward, effective seed propagation techniques helps local communities cultivate and regenerate this multipurpose tree, supporting both environmental conservation and continuous access to forest resources.
This applied research provides practical propagation protocols that forest managers, commercial tree nurseries, and agroforestry practitioners can adopt to domesticate and multiply Carapa grandiflora. Because mechanical nicking uses simple tools rather than hazardous chemicals, it represents an accessible, near-market propagation method that can be implemented immediately in local seedling production systems.
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Carapa grandiflora is a multipurpose tree widely exploited for timber, traditional pharmacopoeia and handicraft for shoe making.These potentials have triggered over-exploitation of the species which might render the plant vulnerable in the nearest future.However, the germination techniques and performances are poorly understood by the local populations.Two pre-germination treatments were investigated (Mechanical and chemical scarification).Mechanical scarification consisted of nicking (T 1 ), manual removal of seed coat (T 2 ) while chemical scarification consisted of soaking the seeds in 50% concentrated sulphuric acid for 1 minute (T 3 ), 3 minutes (T 4 ) and 6 minutes (T 5 ).The seeds were sown in polythene bags and watering was on regular basis.Germination and early growth parameters were monitored daily.Data collected were entered into Microsoft excel and analyzed using STATGRAPHIC 2016.There was an overall germination percentage of 43.33%.Seeds soaked in 50% concentrated sulphuric acid above 1 minute failed to germinate.Nicked seeds had the best latent period followed by manual removal of seed coat while those soaked in 50% concentrated sulphuric acid for 1 minute had the least throughout the study.The germination percentage was significant (p > 0.05) with nicked seed having the highest (62.2 ± 2.54) followed by manual removal of seed coat (46.7 ± 2.12) while seeds soaked in 50% concentrated sulphuric acid for 1 minute were the least (30.0 ± 2.40).Early growth performance of seedlings was not significant (p > 0.05) though nicked seeds had better performance followed by manual removal seed coat while seeds soaked in 50% concentrated How to cite this paper: Tacham, W.
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DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1114412
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