Dynamics and interrelationship between soil and vegetation characteristics in fallow communities in the rainforest zone of mid-Western Nigeria
1999
Agidiolou, A. (University of Benin, Benin (Nigeria). Dept. of Geography and regional Planning)
Changes in soil and vegetation characteristics during bush fallowing was examined using inferential approach. Except grass density, all other vegetation characteristics studied increased with the age of fallow communities. Vegetation recovery in 10-year fallow is about two-third of those in the natural forest plots. No significant change occurs in soil texture over the entire fallow period but the water holding capacity increased from 37.3/ in 1-year fallow to 54.4/ in 10-year fallow. Organic matter content of the soil increased over the fallow period but about 69/ of this occurred in the first three years of fallow. Three years fallow period is considered adequate for this region. Results of the different correlation models show that significant interrelationships exist between soil and vegetation during fallow period and this is dynamic. While soil properties such as water holding capacity, soil organic nutrients exert significant influence on plant characteristics namely tree height, tree density and litter biomass, these plant characteristics also influence soil properties significantly.
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