DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2017.v04i03.003

Pages: 102-108

The study aimed to examine growth performance of Faidherbia albida (Del.) A. Chev. Under field conditions as influenced by different spacing and irrigation regimes. It was conducted in Soba, ten kilometer south of Khartoum (Sudan) in June 2008. The experiment treatments consist of three irrigation regime intervals; 5 days interval; 10 days interval and 15 days interval. In addition, three transplanting spacing was adopted namely: 1x1 m spacing; 1x2 m spacing and 2x3 m spacing. The experimental plot was divided into three parcels (each of about 552 m2 area) according to irrigation regimes. Each parcel was also divided into three sections (replications) according to the transplanting distances; the experimental design and layout was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). A three month old faidherbia albida transplants (shoot height 20 cm) were planted in the field on 1st August 2008. The number of transplants in each spacing parcel was: 48 seedlings in 1x1 m (144 in the 3 irrigation regimes); 45 seedlings in 1x2 m (135 in the 3 irrigation regimes) and 36 seedlings in 2x3 m (108 in the 3 irrigation regimes), making a total number of 387 seedlings in the field. The seedlings were uniformly irrigated for three months after that, by applying the three specified irrigation regimes. The growth parameters measurements started as from 29th November 2008 (3 month’s transplants). Shoot height for all seedlings was measured monthly by using a ruler. The height measurement continued for a period of seven months until 29th June 2009. The seedlings diameters was measured at the ground level (root collar) using a sensitive caliper when the seedlings were harvested for dry weight determination, then a sample (3 seedlings) was dug out from each section, selected randomly, making a total of 27 seedlings. The roots were separated from the shoots at root collar and then the roots and the shoots fresh weights were recorded. The seedlings were oven dried at 80 °C for 24 hours, then