ASSESSMENT ON THE EFFECT OF PRE-TREATMENT METHOD ON GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH OF Albizia lebbeck

This study evaluated the effectiveness of sulfuric acid scarification as a pre-sowing treatment to enhance seed germination and early growth of Albizia lebbeck. The seeds were collected directly from standing trees within the study area. A Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was employed, with 120 seeds randomly assigned to four treatment groups of 2, 4, and 6 minutes (30 seeds per group), including a control receiving no treatment. Results indicated that all sulfuric acid treatments significantly improve accelerated germination onset and germination percentage (100%) compared to the control (66.7%). Growth parameters (height, collar diameter, and number of leaves) were assessed over a five-week period. Seedling height in the 6-minute sulfuric acid treatment consistently showed the greatest increase, reaching 17.5 ± 0.64 cm by the 5th week as compared to the control's 13.5 ± 0.39 cm. Similarly, the 4-minute treatment resulted in the largest collar diameter (1.1 ± 0.03 mm), while the control measured 0.9 ± 0.03 mm. The highest number of leaves by week 5 was observed in the 6-minute treatment group (9.1 ± 0.18), compared to 7.5 ± 0.24 in the control. These findings highlighted the efficacy of sulfuric acid scarification, particularly at 6 minutes, in overcoming seed dormancy and promoting robust early growth in A. lebbeck, recommending its adoption for improved propagation practices.