Effect of Acacia nilotica Tree Age and Geographical Location on Seedling Performance (Khartoum Sunt Forest as Case Study)
Mai M. A. Hassan
National Tree Seed Centre, Forest Research Centre, Agricultural Research Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Khartoum, P.O.Box: 7089, Khartoum, Sudan
Fatima Algunaid Hassan *
Department of Forestry and Range Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Bakht Er-Ruda, Sudan
Ebtihag Eltoum
Department of Forestry and Range Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Bakht Er-Ruda, Sudan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Vigorous seedlings had high chance to survive in harsh conditions. Different environmental and physiological factors could affect seedlings performance. So this study aimed to examine the effect of tree location and tree age on A. nilotica seedlings performance. Three geographical location were selected (North, west and south) and five dph diameter as age indicator (-40 cm, 41-60 cm, 61-80 cm, 81-100 cm and above 101 cm). The results showed that The young trees in north direction produces seedlings with long roots, which give the seedling the advantage in dry seasons. While the old trees in the same area give highest shoot dry weight. This results suggest that the stress circumstances affect the seeds physiology and produce more vigours seedlings.
Keywords: Seedlings, vigor, tree age, geographical location