Abstract
In a field study involving 21-year old exotic plantations and a bush fallow land use system at Forestry Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Umuahia, Abia State, the germination of indigenous woody species and litterfall were monitored. Enumeration of indigenous woody species was carried out within a 3.5 x 3.5 quadrat plot. The Pine/Gmelina mixed stand had the highest level of germination among the exotic plantations with a total population of 140 species with 14 families followed by Pine stand with 121 species and 14 families while Gmelina stand had the least germination with 115 species and 11 families. Pine stand was significant (P
Highlights
Plantations have been shown to resuscitate the productive potential of degraded lands in the tropics (Sanchez et al, 1985), and a substantial regeneration of native species may occur under these plantations
The value for bush fallow presumably was as a result of human disturbance such as collection of stakes and fuel wood, and possibly the types of species that existed therein – the species, and possibly the types of species that existed therein which had slow growth rate and low level of litter production
This study contributed to our understanding of recruitment of indigenous woody species and litterfall in land use systems involving exotic plantations and bush fallow
Summary
Plantations have been shown to resuscitate the productive potential of degraded lands in the tropics (Sanchez et al, 1985), and a substantial regeneration of native species may occur under these plantations. Plantations are regarded as “foster ecosystem”, which stimulate the regeneration of a semi-natural forest community more rapidly than would occur naturally on abandoned unplanted lands (Lugo, 1988). Plantations accumulate species as fast as secondary forests, suggesting a similarity in ecological function (Brown and Lugo, 1990). Plantation forestry of fast growing species began in the tropics as a substitute for unmanaged natural stands with their diminishing wood resources (Evans, 1986). Some tropical tree species have features such as winged and small sized seeds that enhance their chances of colonizing new sites
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