Authors : S. Balaba Tumwebaze, R. Nabanyumya and J. Obua
Abstract: Growth rates of Afrocarpus usambarensis and Podocarpus milanjianus in the Sango Bay forest area in Southern Uganda were evaluated between January 2001 and June 2003. Survival and increase in girth and height of 7,525 seedlings planted on farmers land adjacent to the forest were monitored at 3 months intervals. By the final measurement session, 6,889 seedlings (91.5%) had survived comprising 4,517 Afrocarpus usambarensis (66%) and 2,372 Podocarpus milanjianus (34%). Data were subjected to a mixed model analysis, taking into account repeated measures and the factorial treatment structure of the data. It was observed that seedlings of Afrocarpus usambarensis survived better in the waterlogged soils than Podocarpus milanjianus. Afrocarpus usambarensis had a higher rate of girth and height increment than Podocarpus milanjianus under similar conditions. However, Afrocarpus usambarensis grows faster in these conditions than Podocarpus milanjianus within the same period. For tree growers, Afrocarpus usambarensis would be more suitable than Podocarpus milanjianus for on-farm planting.
S. Balaba Tumwebaze, R. Nabanyumya and J. Obua, 2016. Survival and Growth of Podocarpus milanjianus and Afrocarpus usambarensis Seedlings under Field Conditions in Sango Bay, Uganda. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 11: 784-791.