Herbaceous Cover and Soil Properties in Wildlife Habitats in Bauchi and Gombe States, Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT The perpetuation of wildlife is closely related to habitat, especially plant resources and soil. Yet wildlife habitat degradation and loss appear to be increasing in the Nigerian Savanna owing to natural and man-made factors. The herbaceous ground cover and the soil physical and chemical properties (at 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm levels) were investigated in fallow lands in Alkaleri, Gombe, Toro and Misau local government areas with Yankari National Park (YNP) as control. The herbaceous ground cover was poorer outside YNP but poorest in Gombe having 43% bare ground, 10% forb, 13% litter, and 8% woody plants in dry season as against 30%, 31%, 16%, and 12%, respectively, in YNP. Also irrespective of study site, the soils were generally sandy and low in total nitrogen (0.03-0.11%) and available phosphorus (0.6-6.0 ppm). Wildlife habitats studied are being degraded, hence agroforestry practices recommended for use in dry lands such as green belt plantings and active participation of the people in plantation and community wood-lot establishments should be encouraged.