ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effect of different watering regimes on the germination and growth of Ceiba pentandra. The experiment utilized three watering treatments: watering every day (WED), watering once a week (WOW), and watering twice a week (WTW). The germination trial, conducted in a nursery, followed a complete randomized design (CRD) with three treatments and nine replicates, totaling 450 seedlings. Germination commenced uniformly on the 6th day after sowing irrespective of watering regime. The germination percentages obtained were 23.3% for WED, 19.3% for WTW, and 22.6% for WOW. Growth characteristics, including seedling height and collar girth, were monitored weekly. Seedling height increased progressively over the six-week period, with mean values ranging from 9.40 in Week 1 to 17.09 in Week 6. Collar girth also showed a steady increase, with mean values ranging from 2.05 in Week 1 to 3.19 in Week 6, indicating no significant difference between watering regimes. The number of leaves per seedling varied over the weeks, with mean values ranging from 2.56 in Week 1 to 5.62 in Week 6. While no significant difference was observed in the number of leaves between Weeks 1 to 3, a significant difference was noted between Weeks 3 and 4. Fresh weight measurements indicated significant differences among the watering regimes, with WED having the highest value (2.75), followed by WTW (1.86), and WOW (1.27). But, there was no significant difference in dry weight among the regimes.
Overall, while WED exhibited better growth performance in most variables measured, both WOW and WTW showed potential for raising healthy Ceiba pentandra seedlings. These findings suggest that Ceiba pentandra is tolerant to water stress, making it feasible to cultivate healthy seedlings under conditions of limited water availability. Therefore, the selection of watering regimes can be tailored to suit specific environmental conditions, ensuring successful seedling establishment and conservation efforts.
