Abstract:
The study was carried out to investigate the effect of different growth media on growth,
survival rate and seedling vigour of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) at the nursery stage. The
cocoa seedlings were nursed at Sefwi Wiawso College of Education in the Western
North Region of Ghana. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block
Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The treatments were top soil (T1), Sawdust (T2),
Cocoa pod husk (T3), Top soil+Sawdust (T4), Top soil+Cocoa podhusk (T5) and
Sawdust+Cocoa pod husk (T6). Sixteen (16) poly bags size of 17.5 cm base × 25 cm
height was filled with the respective media. Seeds were sown two seeds per poly bag at
the depth of 2 cm. The parameters measured were subjected to Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA). The means were separated by Least Significant Difference (LSD; P<0.05).
The results from the study showed that, Top soil+Sawdust growth media supported best
growth of cocoa seedlings in all the parameters than the other treatments. However,
Cocoa pod husk media responded poorly to all the growth parameters of the cocoa
seedlings at nursery stage. It is recommended that the use of sawdust to amend growth
medium could be a promising alternative for raising cocoa seedlings at the nursery stage.
Description:
A DISSERTATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES
EDUCATION, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION, SUBMITTED TO
THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF
MASTER OF EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE
CROP SCIENCE
IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA
