Research on the propagation techniques of Sonneratia apetala BuchHam by seed

Abstract

Sonneratia apetala Buch-Ham is an imported, fast-growing, cold-tolerant
mangrove species introduced to the northern coastal areas in 1995 and 2003
for propagation and plantation. Research on the propagation techniques of
Sonneratia apetala Buch-Ham showed that: Seed preservation with the
method of “Putting the whole ripe fruit in a sack and soaking at
permanently flooded seawater areas with the salinity ≤ 10.0‰” resulted in
the longest maintenance time (< 8 months) and the highest percentage of
seed germination rate. Seed processing by “Soaking the seeds in warm
water at 40
o
C for 8 hours, taking out and washing, then incubating in a
damp cloth bag for 3 - 5 days with sour washing on a daily basis, until the
seeds are cracked, the sowing will be implemented”. This method provid ed
the highest seed germination rate and shortest germination time.
Transplanting seedlings with a height of 5 - 10 cm from the sowing beds to
the pots gave the highest survival rate. The mixed composition in the pot
can be used as “100% mud taken from the surface layer, from 0 - 20 cm
deep in mangrove areas” or “90% mud taken from the surface layer of
mangroves + 9% organic fertilizer + 1% Superphosphate” gave the same
survival rate. The growth of seedlings was higher in the composition with
the addition of microbial organic fertilizer and superphosphate.