Potential of Elaeis guineensis as An Agroforestry Tree and its Compatibility with Maize (Zea mays)

The global population including Nigeria is growing at alarming rate and to meet the demand for food, production must be increased. One of the veritable means of improving the production capacity is agroforestry. Proposition of any tree for agroforestry purpose requires the assessment of its compatibility with a test crop. This study assessed the allelopathic effect of Elaeis guineensis on germination and growth of Zea mays with a view to recommending it for agroforestry. This study took place in David Okali Laboratory in the department of Forest Production and Products, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The study was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design by preparing the leachate from the leaf extract of E. guineensis in 5%, 10% and 20% concentrations and control with four replications. A petri dish within which 5 maize seeds were sown served as a replicate while 2ml of the leachate was administered every 2 days for 9 days and distilled water was added to the control experiment. Germination and growth variables such as shoot length, root length, shoot and root fresh and dry weight were assessed. The data analysis was done using one-way ANOVA, correlation and Descriptive statistics. Control treatment had the lowest germination percentage of 60% while both the 5% and 10% leachate concentration ha the highest but equal germination of 85%. Shoot length varied from 5.71cm (control) to 8.66cm (10% leachate). The effect of the leachate was significant (p<0.05) on all the growth variables except for the shoot length. Correlation coefficient between Seed Vigor Index and Mean Germination Percentage, Days of First Seed Germination was highest with coefficient value of 0.428 and 0.424 respectively compared to other growth and germination variables. It was concluded that E. guineensis has a positive allelopathic with maize, but field test experiment is recommended to affirm this claim.