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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Article
Effect of Browsing on the Growth of Jojoba Seedlings in the Dry-Lands of Kenya
Author(s)
Shadrack Kinyua Inoti
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DOI:10.17265/2161-6264/2018.05.006
Affiliation(s)
Egerton University, PO Box 536-20115, Egerton 20115, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Jojoba is a desert shrub,
introduced in the marginal areas of Kenya during 1980s. Jojoba domestication is
being faced by browsing problems due to pastoralism in these areas. Massive
browsing of leaves lowers photosynthesis leading to decline in plant functions.
An experiment was set up in Maungu, with the aim of determining the effect of browsing
on jojoba seedlings. The experimental design was a
randomized complete block design with three treatments
replicated three times. The treatments consisted of varying levels of browsing
as follows: non browsed, 50% browsed and fully browsed. Seedlings were raised
for six months before
sampling. Variables assessed were: survival, height, root-collar diameter, leaf
size, root length and number, internode length, sprout number, root/shoot ratio
and total biomass. ANOVA was performed to determine differences among the
treatments whilst significant differences among the means were separated using least
significant difference (LSD) at p ≤ 0.05. Results showed
fully browsed seedlings were significantly lower in height (26.2 cm), internode length (9.7 mm), leaf length (18.3 mm) and width (10.4 mm) and total fresh
plant biomass (11.0 g) compared to the non
browsed ones which showed 31.1 cm, 23.2, 36.1 and 16.6 mm and 17.8 g, respectively. On the
other hand, fully browsed
seedlings showed significantly higher root/shoot ratio. Seedling growth was
negatively affected by severity of browsing which resulted in stunted growth.
The study recommended that browsing of seedlings should be prevented since it
hinders plant growth.
KEYWORDS
Browsing level, growth, jojoba, tree seedling.
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