EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS ON THE SEEDLING EMERGENCE AND SHOOT HEIGHT OF EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) SEEDS IN MINNA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The study on the effects of varied nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on the emergence and early growth of Eucalyptus camaldulensis seeds was carried out in 2023 and 2024 seasons at the Seed Nursery Unit of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. The experiment was laid in 2 x 4 factorial in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and varied at N (0, 20, 40, 60 kg/ha as urea) and P (0, 13.2, 26.4, 52.8 kg/ha as triple superphosphate) levels which gave 16 treatment combinations including a nutrient-free control replicated three times. Soil characterization was also done on the areas where soils were collected. Seeds were pre-soaked for 24 hours and sown in polyethylene pots filled with sandy Alfisol soil. The different levels of fertilizers were applied at sowing. After 21 days post‐sowing, data were collected and analysed on seedling emergence percentage, emergence speed index (ESI), and shoot height. The results revealed that N and P significantly (p < 0.05) influenced all measured parameters across seasons. The highest emergence percentages (65.5 % in 2023; 66.0 % in 2024), peak ESI (8.0 in 2023; 8.5 in 2024), and greatest shoot heights (7.0 cm in 2023; 7.5 cm in 2024) were observed under 40 kg N/ha. Correspondingly, 26.4 kg P/ha produced optimal emergence (64.5 % - 64.8 %), ESI (7.5 - 7.9), and shoot growth (6.5 - 7.0 cm). Neither higher N (60 kg/ha) nor higher P (52.8 kg/ha) rates conferred additional benefits. No significant interactions between N and P on all the variables measured in both seasons. These findings indicate that 40 kg N/ha combined with 26.4 kg P/ha maximizes early seedling performance of E. camaldulensis under the study conditions. Adoption of these fertilizer rates is recommended to enhance establishment efficiency, reduce input costs, and support sustainable plantation development in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria.