ABSTRACT
The
assessment of recruitment of indigenous tree species and litterfall in three
exotic plantations and a bush fallow system was carried out at Forestry
Research Institute ofNigeria (FRIN), Umuahia. Litterfall was studied for 12
months in the 21- year old exotic plantations and 11- year old fallow system
using a factorial experiment in complete randomized design (CRD) with four
replicates. Enumeration of indigenous tree species was carried out in the
exotic plantations and the bush fallow system with a 3.5m X 3.5m quadrat. The
Pine/Gmelina mixed stand had the highest level of recruitment among the exotic
plantations with a total of 140 species with 14 families in occurrence followed
by Pine stand with 121 species and 14 families in occurrence while Gmelina
stand had the least recruitment with 115 species and 11 families in occurrence.
Litterfall was continuous with much of the litter falling between March and
April. April 2004 gave significantly the highest litter fall (165.9 gm'2),
followed by March 2004 (104.7 gm'2) in the Pine plantation. . No significant
differences, however, existed among the mean monthly litter fall values of
September, October, November, December (i.e. September - December 2003) and
January, February, May, June, July and August 2004 in the pine plantation.
September 2003 gave significantly the highest mean monthly litter fall (75.70
gm'2) in the Gmelina plantation. The result of October 2003 was statistically
equal to November 2003. No significant differences existed among the mean
monthly litter fall values of October, November, December (i.e. October -
December 2003) as well as those of January, February, March, April, May, June,
July and August 2004. . In the Pine/Gmelina mixed stand, the highest litter
fall occurred between the months of September and October. No significant
differences, however, existed in the mean monthly litter fall in the
Pine/Gmelina mixed stand. In the bush fallow system, the highest mean monthly
litter fall (53.10 gm'2) occurred in the month of April 2004. The months of
March and June were also statistically equal. December and January were also
statistically equal. No significant differences existed among the mean monthly
litter fall values of September, October, November, December, January,
February, March, May, June, July and August. However, April 2004 gave
significantly the highest mean monthly litter fall (165.9 gm'2) among the four
plant communities (vegetation types) studied. Significant differences in mean
monthly litter fall occurred between the months of September 2003/ March 2004
and the months of November, December, January, February, June, July and August.
No significant differences existed among the mean monthly litter fall values of
March, September, October and May in the four vegetation types. Pine stand gave
significantly the highest (P > 0.05) annual litter fall (10,000 kg/ha)
followed by the Pine/Gmelina mixed stand (7094 kg/ha), while the Gmelina stand
had the least value among the exotic plantation. The bush fallow system (control)
gave the least (5014 kg/ha) annual litter fall. The mineral content of the
different plant parts in the studied area is not similar. In the bush fallow
system Mg was highest (1.83%), followed jointly by Pine and Gmelina plantations
(1.58%) while Pine/Gmelina mixed plantation had the lowest Mg content 1.34 %.
Ca was 5.48% in the bush fallow system, Pine/Gmelina mixed plantation (4.66%),
while Pine had the least Ca content (3.9%). N was 6.09% in the Pine litter,
Gmelina was 3.91% while the bush fallow system had 3.15%. P was 0.62% in
Gmelina, 0.57% in Pine while Pine/Gmelina mixed plantation had the lowest with
0.43%. Na was 0.77% in bush fallow system, 0.76% in Gmelina while Pine had the
lowest with 0.58%. K was 2.86% in Pine/Gmelina mixed plantation, 2.19% in Gmelina
while Pine had the lowest with 0.75%. The highest value of clay (5.5%), which
was recorded in the Gmelina plantation portrayed higher level of weathering
that has taken place in the soil through organic acids exuded from the roots.
This however, must have led to the lowest level of recruitment of indigenous
tree species within this plantation. Meanwhile, it was discovered that the
highest quantity of litterfall produced by the Pine plantation did not bring
about highest recruitment ofthe indigenous tree species.
OGBONNA, O (2024). Recruitment Of Indigenous Tree Species And Litterfall In Exotic Plantation And Fallow System In Umuahia, Abia State:- Ogbonna, Princewill C. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Oct 12, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/recruitment-of-indigenous-tree-species-and-litterfall-in-exotic-plantation-and-fallow-system-in-umuahia-abia-state-ogbonna-princewill-c-7-2
OGBONNA, OGBONNA. "Recruitment Of Indigenous Tree Species And Litterfall In Exotic Plantation And Fallow System In Umuahia, Abia State:- Ogbonna, Princewill C" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 Mar. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/recruitment-of-indigenous-tree-species-and-litterfall-in-exotic-plantation-and-fallow-system-in-umuahia-abia-state-ogbonna-princewill-c-7-2. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
OGBONNA, OGBONNA. "Recruitment Of Indigenous Tree Species And Litterfall In Exotic Plantation And Fallow System In Umuahia, Abia State:- Ogbonna, Princewill C". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 Mar. 2024. Web. 12 Oct. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/recruitment-of-indigenous-tree-species-and-litterfall-in-exotic-plantation-and-fallow-system-in-umuahia-abia-state-ogbonna-princewill-c-7-2 >.
OGBONNA, OGBONNA. "Recruitment Of Indigenous Tree Species And Litterfall In Exotic Plantation And Fallow System In Umuahia, Abia State:- Ogbonna, Princewill C" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2024). Accessed 12 Oct. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/recruitment-of-indigenous-tree-species-and-litterfall-in-exotic-plantation-and-fallow-system-in-umuahia-abia-state-ogbonna-princewill-c-7-2