Feasibility studies on mangrove Avicennia marina cultivation below ground level along the bank of a dug-out pond

Abstract

The feasibility of cultivating grey mangrove A. marina on the bank of a dug-out pond at 2.25 m below ground level ~500 m inland at Umm Al Qaiwain, United Arab Emirates, has been studied. A seedling emergence of 74% to 84% was observed within 10 days of sowing 796 seeds (propagules). Average values of shoot height, number of leaves and number of branches decreased with distance from the water line. Growth rates of the seedlings were reasonably good (0.19–0.26 cm day^-1).