EVALUATION OF SUITABLE SOIL TEXTURE FOR MAHOGANY (<em>KHAYA</em> <em>SENEGALENSIS</em>) PRODUCTION

Abstract

Effects of the principal textural components (sand, silt, clay) of semi-arid soil on the performance of potted mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) seedlings were investigated in northeastern Nigeria. Quadratic regression equations for each of the three textural components adequately modelled the relationship between percent content of each soil textural component and species performance. The three equations identified silt as the most important textural factor whose proportion in the soil determined mahogany seedling performance. It is predicted that the soils in which mahogany seedlings would perform best would contain approximately 50% sand, 10% silt and 40% clay. Soil containing lower or higher levels of these textural components would give lower yields. The identification of sandy clay soil as the best for mahogany seedling growth is expected to facilitate the process of selecting plantation sites and potting mixtures for the species, especially in semi-arid regions.