Influence of Scarification on Germination and Early Seedling Establishment in Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) in Benue Nigeria

The Study was conducted at the nursery of the Teaching and Research Farm Joseph Sarwun Taker University (JOSTUM), Makurdi, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of different seed treatment on seed germination characteristics and seedling establishment of two date varieties. Factorial combination of four seed treatments (compost, hot water, H2SO4, and control) and three varieties (Ajwah, and Deglenurr) were laid in a Complete Randomized Block Design replicated three times. Data were collected on Seed area(mm), Seed length(mm), Seed diameter(mm), 100 seed weight(g), Germination (%), plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves at 4 – 12 weeks after planting other parameters taken are Leaf Length (LL), Leaf area(LA), Net assimilation rate(NAR), Chlorophyll content(CC). All data collected will be subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), while least significant difference (LSD) at 5% level of probability is used in separating means. Results revealed significant difference (P<0.05) in seed characteristics, and other parameters measured with Degletnur variety had the highest in seed characteristics (seed area (9.24), seed length (22.02), seed diameter (17.82), 100-seed weight (22.12) and germination % (90.02). On scarification methods compost scarification had the tallest (25.21), seed diameter (8.60), number of leaves (6.53), leave length (23.11), leaf area (24.00), net assimilation rate (4.21) and chlorophylls content (29.04). Degletnur variety out performed Ajwah in all the parameter measured such as plant height (25.32), seed diameter (7.02), number of leaves (6.23), leave length (22.24), leaf area (23.02), net assimilation rate (4.82) and chlorophylls content (29.11). The study revealed that breaking dormancy with compost material is effective and Degletnur variety of date palm gave the highest germination parameters and early plant establishments. It can be therefore be recommended that data palm farmers use compost in breaking dormancy for early seed germination characteristics and seedling establishment in the tropics and the adoption of Degletnur variety.