Abstract
This experiment examined the impact of management techniques for sustaining the forest soils nutrient status using a comparative study of soil chemical and physical properties of different forest types in Onigambari Forest-Reserve. Soil sampling was conducted in two sections representing two forest types; Tectona grandis (TG) plots and the natural vegetation (NV) within Onigambari Forest-Reserves. Each section, segmented into a 10m-by-10m quadrat size. Twenty samples were collected at random in each plot in quadruplicate from the surface (0-15cm) and subsurface (15-30cm) depth. The composite samples were air-dried, prepared for physical and chemical analyses. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA, means were compared using student’s t-test (p ≤ 0.05) using JMP Pro 14. The results showed that the means of chemical and physical properties in both forest plantations varied with depth. The pH increases with depth from 5.95 to 6.15 in TG and 6.15 to 6.25 in NV forest at 0-15cm and 15-30cm, respectively. However, NV had the highest amounts of organic carbon content, Total-Nitrogen, and exchangeable cations decreased with depth at both forests. Phosphorus content increased from 9.43(0-15cm) to 10.95(15-30cm) at TG forest and 2.7 (0-15cm) to 5.9 (15-30cm). Sand content was higher at the TG forest, while higher clay and silt contents were observed in NV. Organic-matter and organic-carbon content were observed to be higher in the surface layer compared to the sub-surface layer in both forests studied. In conclusion, the Natural vegetation soils possess more nutrients than Tectona grandis soils. Therefore, afforestation should be encouraged.
Highlights
Becoming intense with the continuous rise in human population and urbanization with continuous use of land for agricultural activities year after year (Agyarko, et al, 2014)
The specific objective of this study is to suggest the management technique needed to sustain the nutrient status of the forest soils
According to Adeola and Tubonem (2017), this characteristic distinguished the soils of granite and gneiss rock complex origin from other soils of southwestern Nigeria
Summary
Becoming intense with the continuous rise in human population and urbanization with continuous use of land for agricultural activities year after year (Agyarko, et al, 2014). In recognition of the current global food crises, Nigeria currently pursues policy of expanding the land area under cultivation without deforestation and negative influence on the ecosystem as well as intensifying crop productions by continuous cropping system of which certain arable crops due to their importance globally are included (Nwite, et al, 2017). Adoption of more sustainable strategies for the maintenance of soil fertility under such conditions becomes imperative to sustain crop yield. It is imperative to understand the influence of tree species on nutrient status of forest soils and other properties. The specific objective of this study is to suggest the management technique needed to sustain the nutrient status of the forest soils
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