Growth Response of Ixora coccinea (L.) Cuttings to Coconut Water Treatment under a Low Polythene Sheet Dome

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the effects of coconut water treatment and polythene sheet dome on the establishment of Ixora coccinea (L.), stem cuttings. Study Design: A 4 factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates was used. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Multipurpose Crop Nursery of the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong campus between September and December 2019. Methodology: Two hundred and forty (240) cuttings of equal length of 12 cm were excised and each cutting planted to a depth of 2 cm with 10 cm above the soil in each of the 240 potting bags, which were filled, with sterilized soil to a depth of 15 cm from the bottom leaving 1.5 cm from the top. Results: Results showed that treatments with varying levels of coconut water in combination with the plain polythene dome had a significant influence on growth parameters. Increasing levels of coconut water resulted in a subsequent increase in the number of leaves, plant height, and roots as well as survival rate. The treatment with 100 ml coconut water in combination with polythene dome recorded the highest plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of roots per plant [12.22 cm, 21.89 and 22.00] respectively at the end of the experiment. The percentage survival of plants however reduced significantly by 60 DAP [83.33%] when compared no polythene dome(control) [94.44%]. Conclusion: The study concludes that Ixora coccinea (L.) cuttings treated with 100 ml of coconut water in combination with a polythene dome will enhance the growth and development of Ixora coccinea (L.) cuttings, however, the use of the polythene dome should be curtailed before 60DAP.