ABSTRACT

Seeds stocked in a swampy soil and Hevea brasiliensis plantation soil of Umudike were assessed by counting and recording the seedlings that germinated from soil monoliths collected from the sites at different months. On the first of each month, Four soil monoliths were taken from the swampy soil of which Two soil monoliths were taken from the depth 0-10cm and the remaining Two from I 0-20cm depth. The same method was used in collecting Four soil monoliths from Hevea brasiliensis plantation soil. The study lasted from November 2003 to February 2004. The effect of light and depth were investigated on the seeds stocked in the soil for 16 weeks. The design was by randomized completely block design and analysed with analysis of variance. From 0-10cm depth and kept in open, a total of 18 species comprising 2489(97%) individuals germinated from swamp soil and a total of 14 species comprising 116(3%) germinated from Hevea brasiliensis plantation soil. From 10- 20cm depth in open, a total of 12 species comprising 926(98%) individuals germinated from swamp soil while IO species comprising 20(2%) individual germinated from Hevea brasi/iensis plantation soil. In the shade, a total of 7 species comprising 151(77%) individuals germinated from swamp soil while 9 species comprising 45(23%) individuals germinated from Hevea brasiliensis plantation soil from the 0-10cm.From 10-20cm depth, 6 species comprising 113(88%) individuals germinated from swamp soil while 4 species comprising 15(12%) individuals germinated from Hevea brasiliensis plantation soil. Seed germination started within the first seven days of collection and germination stopped after seventy days. High seed germination from soil in the open is due to unfiltered red wavelength radiation that reaches the soil monolith. The greater germination from swampy soil is due to annual seed production of the grasses. Neither pioneer nor climax tree species germinated from the swampy soil but pioneer species germinated from the Hevea brasiliensis plantation soil. Climax tree species should be introduced, as they were absent both in swampy soil and Hevea brasiliensis plantation soil. Enrichment planting of desirable economic tree species is recommended.