ABSTRACT

An experiment was laid out at the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike to determine the effect of spacing on the growth and establishment of vetiver grass (Vertivetia zizanioides). Four different spacings (im by irn, O.4m by O.2rn, O.4m by O.4m and O.4m by O.15m) were tested to assess their effect on the growth and establishment of vetiver grass planted out in a field near the forestry nursery. Slips of vetiver grass were planted in blocks on an area of land lOOm2and replicated four times. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used. The slips were monitored for time of rooting, survival percentage, height, blade number, number of tillers, and at the end, destructive sampling was carried out to assess the total biomass and root length. Survival count was made four weeks after planting. The number of blades Frodced, and number of tiflors were counted and the length of the tillers (i.e the heigli of the pl.mt) ineasuredsing the meii rul Result showed that lreatment one had a survival percentage of 93.8%, treatment two, 96.0% treatment three 95.0%, and treatment four, 95.0%. The thy weight biomass (total biomass) was carried out by drying the plants in the oven and weighing them using the sensitive weighing balance. There was no significant difference (at the 5 peróent level ) in the height of plants due to treatment for ail measurements taken. For blade number, treatment two with means of 10.3 ± 0.3, 20.6 ± 1.0, and 36.1 ± 0.9 at 4, 8 and 12 wks after planting respectively were significantly higher than the other treatment means. For number of tillers, treatment two, with a mean of 1.9 ± 0.1, 2.9 ± 0.4 and 5.6 ± 0.4 at 4, 8 and 12 wks after planting respectively, were significantly different from the other treatment means. With the result of the experiment, treatment two (40cm x 20cm) gave the best growth rate in terms of number of blades and ililers produced. For a fast growth and establishments of vetiver grass, treatment spacing of 40cm x 20cm is recommended based on this study.