Eduardo, Jr. ESPEJON

EFFECTS OF VERMICAST APPLICATION TO THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF BITANGHOL (Calophyllum blancoi Pl. and Tr.) IN GRASSLAND

The study was conducted to determine the percentage survival and early growth performance of Bitanghol (Calophyllum blancoi) applied with varying levels of vermicast in an open grassland. The experiment was laid out using randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of three (3) replications with three (3) different levels of vermicast treatment, 0 gram, 250 grams and 500 grams respectively. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in data analysis. Results showed that survival of Bitanghol in grassland had no significant difference in terms of vermicast application when analyzed statistically, average survival after 4 months are as follows 0 gram vermicast application 82%, 250 g vermicast application 84%, and 500 g vermicast application of 83%. Survival is mainly influenced by climatic site factor, long dry periods greatly affects the survival and growth of the outplanted seedlings as well as poor soil nutrient availability in the area. Height growth increment of outplanted seedlings as affected by different levels of vermicast showed insignificant difference when tested using ANOVA. 250 g vermicast application showed the highest height increment of 2.17 cm. followed by 500 g vermicast application and 0 g vermicast application of 1.98 cm and 0.94 cm respectively. Diameter growth increment and number of leaves of seedlings were not significantly affected with the different levels of vermicast. It was found out that bitanghol seedlings applied with 250 grams of vermicast showed relatively the same results compared to 500 grams of vermicast application. Average diameter increment of seedlings as affected by different levels of vermicast 0 g, 250, g , and 500 g is as follows 0.17 mm, 0.42 mm, 0.37 mm respectively. Average increment in number of leaves of seedlings as affected by different levels of vermicast 0 g, 250 g, and 500 g is as follows 0.90, 1.90, and 1.56 respectively. No significant difference statistically in terms of height, diameter and number of leaves is to be expected due to the short time of observation as well as the slow releasing of available nutrients of organic fertilizer, but still data showed promising results for 250 gram vermicast application compared with 500 gram application to the growth of the planted seedlings.

Keywords:

Vermicast, Calophyllum blancoi, growth survival, reforestation,

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