Report 21. Factors affecting seedling mortality in Haitian agroforestry

Abstract

This study examined several factors influencing the mortality of samples of seedlings used in the Agroforestry II Project. Measurements were made of the rootball condition, leaf drop, plant turgor and internal box temperatures of samples of seedlings in selected locations before and after their delivery to farmers. Actual survival rates of species outplanted in farmers' fields were calculated after a minimum of fourteen days. The number of contacts between farmers and animators during the planting and early growth phase was determined. The effectiveness of an extension planting guide in imparting information to farmers was examined. The four seedling conditions measured in nurseries and in farmers' fields were not shown to have a great influence on seedling survivability. Rootball condition, however, may be a more important influence than was indicated in the particular samples measured. Observations and informal interviews suggest that weeding of planting sites influences survivability. Weeded sites were associated with greater survivability. Seedlings in some unweeded sites were mistakenly weeded later by local work squads. A moderate correlation between the number of extension contacts between animators and farmers, and farmers' knowledge was observed. Greater use of the information in the extension planting guide by animators and farmers could improve the survival of seedlings. Additional site-specific observations are provided. Recommendations to improve seedling planting techniques are offered.

Rapa sa-a té penché sou plizye kalité bagay ki kapab coz la mo echantiyon ti pye bwa ki itilizé nan Pwoje Agroforestry II. Nou pran mezi sou kondisyon boul rasin-la, kantité fey ki tombé, etat fey yo, si yo red ou pa, ak chale andan bwat echantiyon plantil yo nan kek lokal ni avan, ni apré yo té livré bay plante yo. To survi chak espes ki té planté nan jaden plante yo té kalkilé apre 14 jou. Nou té suiv nom de kontak ent plante yo é animate yo pendan epok plantasyon-an ak premyé pati kwasans ti plantil yo. Kon sa nou té kapab etidyé si enformasyon ak consey animate yo té bay plante yo té genyen youn efe sou komportman plante yo. Kat kondisyon plantil yo meziré ni nan pepinye, ni nan jaden plante, pat demontré youn gran diferans nan kantité plantil ki reté nan vi. Selman kondisyon boul rasin-la té ka poté youn pi gwo enflians ke mezi echantiyon yo ta endiké. Koté ki té saklé té genyen plis plantil ki viv. Kek nan plantil yo nan koté ki pat saklé te raché nan saklaj pa de travaye sou plas. Nan kek ka nou té remaké ke prezans animate nan zon la té genyen youn efe pozitiv sou konesans plante yo. Si plante yo sevi ak konesans sa-yo li kapab edé plis nan ti plantil yo viv. Lot enfomasyon sou obsevasyon fet sou plas disponib nan rapo-saa ensem ak konsey sou teknik pou edé ti plantil pousé pi byen.