ABSTRACT

ANGCAHAS, ANA MAY A. Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukdnon. March 2012. Effect of Different Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth Performance of White Lauan (Shorea contorta Vidal) Seedlings.

Adviser: ADRIAN M. TULOD M.S. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of the different inorganic fertilizers on the growth performance of white lauan (Shorea contorta Vidal) seedlings. The inorganic fertilizers employed were complete fertilizer (14-14-14), ammonium sulphate (21-0-0), urea (46-0-0), and muriate of potash (0-0-60). Root collar diameter, height, number of leaves, percent survival, biomass (root and shoot) production and root to shoot ratio were measured. The addition of the different inorganic fertilizers demonstrated significant increase on height growth, number of leaves, shoot and total biomass yield of white lauan seedlings. Though the effects on root collar diameter and root biomass yield were statistically insignificant, numerical results were higher in seedlings added with the inorganic fertilizers. Among the treatments, the addition of complete fertilizers was generally most effective in improving growth performance of the seedlings followed by ammonium sulphate and urea. However, at seedling stage (i.e. 3-month old), the use of complete fertilizer and ammonium sulphate tend to produce top heavy seedlings as shown by the unbalanced root to shoot ratio (i.e. 1:3 and 1:4, respectively) and higher shoot biomass yield, which may not yet be suitable for field planting particularly in areas with low moisture regime, a usual characteristic of most reforestation sites in the country.