Regeneration of kola trees, Cola nitida (Vent) Schott and Endlicher, by coppicing

Abstract

Old kola trees whose production was already very low were cut for regrowth at the beginning, middle and end of the rainy season at various heights, 30, 60 and 120 cm from the ground level, in order to study the regeneration of the trees for the possible use of this method in the rehabilitation of kola. Young shoots were produced on the buds that formed, one, two or three of the shoots were selected and allowed to grow normally while the others were removed.

The height of the cut influenced the number of stumps that formed new shoots. The 120 cm cut allowed more trees to form buds than those cut at 30 or 60 cm. The heights also influenced the number and size of buds. There were more, but smaller, buds in stumps cut at 120 cm than at 30 or 60 cm. The time of year when the cut was made had little effect on the regeneration percentage

Differences in the height growth rate of regenerated shoots (over a 42-month period) due to ravio crowding were small except for trees cut to 60 cm at the beginning of the rainy season. In this treatment, shoot growth was better than in the others. The possibility of increasing the percentage of vegetation and shoot growth by temporarily shading the felled stumps and by insect control is discussed, in order to convert a moribund, unproductive plantation into a productive one in three or four years.