Despite the high medicinal properties of Kigelia africana to most of the people of Nigeria and other nations of the world, it only exist as a protected and semi domesticated species This study investigated the effects of light intensities on the early growth performance of K. africana as an important step towards its domestication. Seedlings of K. africana were monitored under five light intensities namely; 60%, 45% and 30% light intensities, under tree canopy cover (5% light intensity) and control treatment was direct sunlight (100% light intensity). The experiment was laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Early growth rate of the species was significantly affected by different light intensities. Seedlings height and diameter ranged from 6.2–30.2 cm and 2–8.98 mm respectively (after 12 weeks) depending on light intensity. K. africana seedlings under direct sunlight did not perform well compared to the seedlings under low light conditions i.e. 30%, 45% and 60% light intensities, implying the seedlings need some shade for the establishment of early good growth while the species performed poorly under forest canopy, indicating that they may not do well under heavy shade. Thus, the species has the potential to survive when transplanted to the field
Keywords: Domestication, Early Growth, Kigelia Africana, Light Intensity, Multipurpose
