Abstract
The change from natural forest cover to tea and Eucalyptus is rampant in protected areas of western Uganda. The objectives were; to examine the trend in land-use /cover change and determine the effect of these changes on the physico-chemical properties of soils around Kibale National Park. The trend in land use/cover change was assessed by analyzing a series of landsat images. Focused group discussions and key informant interviews were used for land-use/cover reconstruction. Three major land uses were included; woodlot (Eucalyptus grandis; 5 years old) ), tea (57 years old) and natural forest used as a control. Each of these land-uses were selected at two different North facing landscape positions and were replicated three times. A total of 36 composite soil samples were taken at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depth from natural forest, Tea plantation and eucalyptus on three ridges. Results showed that small scale farming, tea and eucalyptus plantation and built up area have increased over time, to the expense of woodlot and forest cover. Tea and Eucalyptus have induced changes in: exchangeable Mg and Ca, available P, SOM, pH, and bulk density of sub soil (P<.05). Landscape positions within land use also significantly influenced most soil properties (P<.05). Similar findings were observed by Wang et al. (2006) in commercial tea plantations in China that received nitrogen fertilizers.
Highlights
Forest degradation in Uganda continues to be an issue of serious concern threatening to accelerate land degradation [1]
Kibale National Park is located in Western Uganda near the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and contains moist evergreen forest [3]
Small-scale farming, tea plantation, N Built up areas Grasslands Small scale farming Tea plantations Tropical forest Woodlands 03.57 14 21 28
Summary
Forest degradation in Uganda continues to be an issue of serious concern threatening to accelerate land degradation [1]. Kibale National Park is located in Western Uganda near the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and contains moist evergreen forest [3]. This natural forest is punctuated with patches of grassland which are mainly around the summits of the hill tops. As the area experiences crop destruction due to wild animal raids especially elephants, people have resorted to tree plantation establishment notably, eucalyptus and pines [6]. These plantations have expanded horizontally forming new major vegetation covers
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