Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T12:38:31.240Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effects of tree canopy cover on soil fertility in a Nigerian savanna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Augustine Onwuegbukiwe Isichei  and
Joseph Ikechukwu Muoghalu
Augustine Onwuegbukiwe Isichei
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Joseph Ikechukwu Muoghalu
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The effect of tree canopy cover on soil properties was studied over three periods: middry season (January), mid-growth period (August) and peak-growth period (October) in three 1 ha plots in savanna of north-west Nigeria. The objective was to find out whether tree canopies change the nutrient status of the soil under them relative to adjacent grasslands. Soils under tree canopies were found to have significantly higher levels of organic matter, calcium, magnesium, potassium, total exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity and pH than those in open grasslands. Nitrogen and phosphorus were slightly higher in soils under tree canopies than those in the open grasslands. Trees 7 m and above had more influence on soil properties than smaller trees. Differences in soil properties among the study plots were due to differences in their soil texture. Seasonal trends were observed in organic matter, carbon: nitrogen ratio, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, total exchangeable cations and percentage base saturation.

Keywords

Nigeriasavannasoil fertilitytree canopytree height
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , August 1992 , pp. 329 - 338
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Allison, L. E. 1965. Organic matter. Pp 1367–1378 in Black, C. A.Methods of soil analysis Part 2. Chemial and microbiological properties. Agronomy 9. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, 1572 pp.Google Scholar
Ayeni, J. S. O. 1982. A general review of wildlife policy in Nigeria (with special reference to savanna). Pp 51–67 in Sanford, W. W., Yesufu, H. M. & Ayeni, J. S. O. (eds). Nigerian Savanna: Selected Papers from the Man and Biosphere State-of-Knowledge Workshop. Kainji Lake Research Institute, New Bussa, 440 pp.Google Scholar
Balasubramanian, V., Singh, L., Nnadi, L. A. & Mokwunye, A. U. 1984. Fertility status of some upland savanna soils of Nigeria under fallow and cultivation. Samarau Journal of Agricultural Research 2(1 and 2): 13–23.Google Scholar
Belsky, A. J., Amundson, R. C., Duxbury, J. M., Riha, S. J., Ali, A. R. & Mwonga, S. M. 1989. The effects of trees on their physical, chemical and biological environments in a semi-arid savanna in Kenya. Journal of Applied Ecology 26:1005–1024.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernhard-Reversat, F. 1982. Biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen in a semi-arid savanna. Oikos 38:321–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birch, H. F. & Friend, M. T. 1956. The organic matter and nitrogen status of East African soils. Journal of Soil Science 7:156–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bray, R. H. & Kurtz, L. T. 1945. Determination of total organic and available forms of phosphorus in soils. Soil Science 59:39–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bremner, J. M. 1965. Total nitrogen. Pp 1149–1178 in Black, C. A. (ed.). Methods of Soil analysis Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy 9. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, 1572 pp.Google Scholar
Day, P. R. 1965. Particle fractionation and particle-size analysis. Pp 545–567 in Black, C. A. (ed.). Methods of soil analysis Part 1. Physical and mineralogical properties. Agronomy 9. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, 770 pp.Google Scholar
Garcia-Moya, E. & McKell, C. M. 1970. Contribution of shrubs to the nitrogen economy of a desert wash plant community. Ecology 51:81–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gerakis, P. A. & Tsangarakis, C. Z. 1970. The influence of Acacia Senegal on the fertility of a sand sheet (Goz) soil in the central Sudan. Plant and Soil 33:81–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hatton, J. C. & Smart, N. D. E. 1984. The effect of long term exclusion of large herbivores on soil nutrient status in Murchison Falls National Fall, Uganda. African Journal of Ecology 22:23–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutchinson, J. & Dalziel, J. M. 1954–1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa (Revised by Keay, R. W. J. & Hepper, F. N.). Crown Agents, London.Google Scholar
Isichel, A. O. 1979. Elucidation of stocks and flows of nitrogen in some Nigerian savanna ecosystems. PhD Thesis, University of Ife, Nigeria, 195 pp.Google Scholar
Isichel, A. O. 1982. Primary production in the savanna Pp. 42–50 in Sanford, W. W., Yesufu, H. M. & Ayeni, J. S. O. (eds). Nigerian Savanna: Selected Papers from the Man and Biosphere Stale-of-Knowledge Workshop. Kainji Lake Research Institute, New Bussa, 44pp.Google Scholar
Jackson, M. L. 1958. Soil Chemical Analysis. Prentice Hall, New York, 498 pp.Google Scholar
Jones, M. J. 1971. The maintenance of soil organic matter under continuous cultivation at Samaru, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science 77:473–482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, M. J. 1973. The organic matter content of the savanna soils of West Africa. Journal of Soil Science 24:42–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kadeba, O. 1974. Nutrient relationship in some Forest Reserve soils in Northern Nigeria. Research Paper 29 (Savanna Series) Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan, Nigeria. 5 pp.Google Scholar
Kadeba, O. & Benjaminsen, J. N. 1976. Contribution of organic matter and clay to the cation exchange capacity of soils in the savanna zone of Nigeria. Communications in soil Science and Plant Analysis 7:129–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keay, R. W. J. 1959. An outline of Nigerian vegetation (3rd edition). Federal Ministry of Information, Printing Division, Lagos. 46 pp + map.Google Scholar
Kellman, M. 1979. Soil enrichment by Neotropical savanna trees. Journal of Ecology 67:565–577.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelly, R. D. & Walker, B. H. 1976. The effects of different forms of land use on the ecology of a semiarid region in South-Eastern Rhodesia. Journal of Ecology 64:553–576.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klinkinberg, K. & Hildebrand, F. H. 1964. A semi-detailed soil survey of area near new town of Bussa (Niger Dam Resettlement Project). Soil Survey Bulletin (Samaru) 2 Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 17 pp + Map.Google Scholar
Nnadi, L. A. & Balasubramanian, V. 1982. Soils of the Nigerian savanna with particular reference to the Niger Basin and Kainji National Park area. Pp 241–253 in Sanford, W. W., Yesufu, H. M. & Ayeni, J. S. O. (eds). Nigerian Savanna: Selected Papers from the Man and Biosphere State-of-Knowledge Workshop. Kainji Lake Research Institute, New Bussa, 440 pp.Google Scholar
Radwanski, S. A. & Wickens, G. E. 1967. The ecology of Acacia albida on mantle soils in Zalinger, Jebel Marra, Sudan. Journal of Applied Ecology 4:569–579.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sanford, W. W. 1982. Savanna: A general review. Pp 3–22 in Sanford, W. W., Yesufu, H. M. & Ayeni, J. S. O. (eds). Nigerian Savanna: Selected Papers from the Man and Biosphere State-of-Knowledge Workshop. Kainji Lake Research Institute, New Bussa. 440 pp.Google Scholar
Sanford, W. W., Sugei, U., Obot, E. O., Isichel, A. O. & Wari, M. 1982. Relationship of woody plants to herbaceous production in Nigerian savanna. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 59:315–318.Google Scholar
Shreve, F. 1931. Physical conditions in sun and shade. Ecology 44:476–579.Google Scholar
Tiedemann, A. R. & Klemmedson, J. O. 1973. Effect of mesquite on physical and chemical properties of the soil. Journal of Range Management 26:27–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wahlenberg, G. M. 1930. Effect of Caenothus brush on Western yellow pine plantations in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Journal of Agricultural Research 41:601–612.Google Scholar
Walter, M. W. 1967. Length of the rainy season in Nigeria. Nigerian Geographical Journal 10:123–128.Google Scholar
White, F. 1983. The Vegetation of Africa – A descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO Vegetation Map of Africa. UNESCO, Paris. 356 pp + 3 Maps.Google Scholar