Average Tree Height Research Articles

Evaluating Rapid Participatory Rural Appraisal as an Assessment of Ethnoecological Knowledge and Local Biodiversity Patterns

There is a pressing need to find both locally and globally relevant tools to measure and compare biodiversity patterns. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is important to biodiversity monitoring, but has a contested role in preliminary biodiversity assessments. We examined rapid participatory rural appraisal (rPRA) (a tool commonly used for local needs assessments) as an alternative to surveys of vascular plants conducted by people with local knowledge. We used rPRA to determine the local-knowledge consensus on the average richness, diversity, and height of local grasses and trees in three habitats surrounding Boumba, Niger, bordering Park-W. We then conducted our own vascular plant surveys to collect information on plant richness, abundance, and structure. Using a qualitative ranking, we compared TEK-based assessments of diversity patterns with our survey-based assessments. The TEK-based assessments matched survey-based assessments on measures of height and density for grasses and trees and tree richness. The two assessments correlated poorly on herb richness and Simpson's D value for both trees and grasses. Plant life form and gender of the participant affected the way diversity patterns were described, which highlights the usefulness of TEK in explaining local realities and indicates limitations of using TEK as a large-scale assessment tool. Our results demonstrate that rPRA can serve to combine local-knowledge inquiry with scientific study at a cost lower than vascular plant surveys and demonstrates a useful blunt tool for preliminary biodiversity assessment.

Tree cover and biomass increase in a southern African savanna despite growing elephant population

The growing elephant populations in many parts of southern Africa raise concerns of a detrimental loss of trees, resulting in overall reduction of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Elephant distribution and density can be steered through artificial waterpoints (AWPs). However, this leaves resident vegetation no relief during dry seasons. We studied how the introduction of eight AWPs in 1996 affected the spatiotemporal tree-structure dynamics in central Chobe National Park, an unfenced savanna area in northern Botswana with a dry-season elephant density of approximately 3.34 individuals per square kilometer. We hypothesized that the impact of these AWPs amplified over time and expanded in space, resulting in a decrease in average tree density, tree height, and canopy volume. We measured height and canopy dimensions of all woody plants around eight artificial and two seasonal waterpoints for 172 plots in 1997, 2000, and 2008. Plots, consisting of 50 x 2 m transects for small trees (0.20-3.00 m tall) nested within 50 x 20 m transects for large trees (> or = 3.0 m tall), were located at 100, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 m distance classes. A repeated-measures mixed-effect model showed that tree density, cover, and volume had increased over time throughout the area, caused by a combination of an increase of trees in lower size classes and a decrease in larger size classes. Our results indicate that the decrease of large trees can be attributed to a growing elephant population. Decrease or loss of particular tree size classes may have been caused by a loss of browser-preferred species while facilitating the competitiveness of less-preferred species. In spite of 12 years of artificial water supply and an annual elephant population growth of 6%, we found no evidence that the eight AWPs had a negative effect on tree biomass or tree structure. The decreasing large-tree component could be a remainder of a depleted but currently restoring elephant population.

Contrasting effects of season and method of harvest on soil properties and the growth of black spruce regeneration in the boreal forested peatlands of eastern Canada

It has been suggested that without sufficient soil disturbance, harvest in boreal forested peatlands may accelerate paludification and reduce forest productivity. The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of harvest methods (clearcutting vs. careful logging) and season (summer vs. winter harvest) on black spruce regeneration and growth in boreal forested peatlands of eastern Canada, and to identify the soil variables that favour tree growth following harvest. Moreover, we sought to determine how stand growth following harvest compared with that observed following fire. The average tree height of summer clearcuts was greater than that of summer carefully logged stands and that of all winter harvested sites. Summer clearcutting also resulted in a higher density of trees > 3 m and > 4 m tall and in a 50% reduction in Rhododendron groenlandicum cover, a species associated with reduced black spruce growth. Height growth of sample trees was related to foliar N and P concentrations, and to soil total N, pH and available Ca and Mg but not to harvest method or season. Our results also indicate that summer clearcutting could produce stand productivity levels comparable to those observed after high-severity soil burns. These results suggest that summer clearcutting could be used to restore forest productivity following harvest in forested peatlands, and offer further support to the idea that sufficient levels of soil disturbance may be required to restore productivity in ecosystems undergoing paludification.

A Height–Diameter Curve for Longleaf Pine Plantations in the Gulf Coastal Plain

Abstract Tree height is a critical component of a complete growth-and-yield model because it is one of the primary components used in volume calculation. To develop an equation to predict total height from dbh for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) plantations in the West Gulf region, many different sigmoidal curve forms, weighting functions, and ways of expressing height and diameter were explored. Most of the functional forms tried produced very similar results, but ultimately the form developed by Levakovic was chosen as best. Another useful result was that scaling diameters by the quadratic mean diameter on a plot and height by the average height of dominant and codominant trees in the target stand resulted in dramatically better fits than using these variables in their raw forms.

Long-Term Effects of Site Preparation Treatments, Complete Competition Control, and Repeated Fertilization on Growth of Slash Pine Plantations in the Flatwoods of the Southeastern United States

Abstract Data through age 26 from a well-designed study established in 1979 were analyzed with a repeated-measures analysis of variance approach to evaluate effects of site preparation treatments, complete competition control, and repeated fertilization on growth of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) plantations on Spodosols and non-Spodosols in the flatwoods region of southern Georgia and northern Florida. Complete and sustained vegetation control and repeated fertilization consistently and significantly increased slash pine productivity, with greater responses occurring on Spodosols than on non-Spodosols; their combination had less than additive effects on Spodosols and additive effects on non-Spodosols. Complete and sustained vegetation control resulted in greater cumulative responses than repeated fertilization over more than 20 years, and then the gains from repeated fertilization had caught or surpassed the gains from complete vegetation control. Bedding resulted in significant responses in the early ages. Burning improved stand basal area and volume growth rather than average tree height and dbh on non-Spodosols and had little effect on Spodosols. Chopping had no significant effect on either soil group. Results of this study emphasize the need for site-specific silvicultural prescriptions.

Biomass and Stand Characteristics of a Highly Productive Mixed Douglas-Fir and Western Hemlock Plantation in Coastal Washington

Abstract Aboveground biomass predictive equations were developed for a highly productive 47-year-old mixed Douglas-fir and western hemlock stand in southwest Washington State to characterize the preharvest stand attributes for the Fall River Long-Term Site Productivity Study. The equations were developed using detailed biomass data taken from 31 Douglas-fir and 11 western hemlock trees within the original stand. The stand had an average of 615 live trees per hectare, with an average dbh of 35.6 cm (39.1 cm for Douglas-fir and 33.3 cm for western hemlock) and an average total tree height of 31.6 m (32.8 m for Douglas-fir and 30.2 m for western hemlock). Equations developed were of the form ln Y = b1 + b2 ln dbh, where Y = biomass in kg, dbh = diameter in cm at 1.3 m height, b1 = intercept, and b2 = slope of equation. Each tree part was estimated separately and also combined into total aboveground biomass. The total aboveground biomass estimation equations were ln Y = −0.9950 + 2.0765 ln dbh for Douglas-fir, and ln Y = −1.6612 + 2.2321 ln dbh for western hemlock. The estimate of the aboveground live-tree biomass was of 395 Mg ha−1 (235 Mg ha−1 for Douglas-fir and 160 Mg ha−1 for western hemlock), with 9.5, 29.3, 12.9, 308, and 32.7 Mg ha−1 in the foliage, live branches, dead branches, stem wood, and stem bark, respectively. When compared with biomass estimates from six other studies, ranging in age from 22 to 110 years and from 96.3 to 636 Mg ha−1, the biomass of the Fall River site was relatively high for its age, indicating very high productivity.

Dispersal in a gradient of habitats: Activity by juvenile North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in varying-age forest stands

Understanding the subtleties of the dispersal process, such as how dispersers investigate or avoid different habitat types, is critical to gaining insight into colonization rates and other population processes that occur across landscapes. In central British Columbia, Canada, I examined red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) dispersal activity in second-growth pine (Pinus contorta) stands of varying ages. The main objective of the study was to determine whether i) the dispersing animals directed more attention towards relatively older seral forest stands that more closely approximated their natal habitat (mature forest stands) or ii) they did not discriminate against younger forest stands, at least during the exploratory foray phase of dispersal. To counter the difficulty in monitoring dispersers over a large number of sites placed across the landscape, track counts were used to index dispersal activity. Dispersal activity became noticeably greater in pine stands once they reached 14–18 y of age, whereas younger stands showed relatively little activity. Average tree height and cone production in the second-growth forests increased with age, so both of these characteristics along with others (such as conspecific sign) constitute attributes of the stands that the animals potentially were keying into. To elucidate the relative importance of these potential cues will require further study.

Distribution of Organic Carbon in Pitch Pine Plantation in Kongju, Korea

Organic carbon (OC) distribution in 32-year-old pitch pine plantation at Mt. Hotae in Kongju, Korea, was studied from August 2007 to July 2008. In order to investigate the OC distribution, OC in plant biomass, litterfall, litter layer on forest floor, and soil within 50cm depth were estimated. The density of P. rigida plantation was 3,200 trees/ha, average DBH was <TEX>$18.7{\pm}5.53cm$</TEX> and average tree height was <TEX>$11.1{\pm}1.85m$</TEX>. Organic carbon stored in plant biomass, litterlayer on forest floor and soil in 2008 was 89.46 ton C/ha (46.09%), 4.32 ton C/ha (2.23%) and 100.32 ton C <TEX>$ha^{-1}$</TEX> 50cm-<TEX>$depth^{-1}$</TEX> (51.68%), respectively. Amount of OC returned to forest floor via litterfall was 2.21 ton C <TEX>$ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$</TEX>. Total amount of OC stored in this P. rigida plantation was 194.1 ton C/ha. Net increase of OC in above- and below-ground biomass in this pitch pine plantation was 4.82 ton C <TEX>$ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$</TEX>.

Habitat quality and availability of the Sri Lanka Red Slender Loris Loris tardigradus tardigradus (Mammalia: Primates: Lorisidae) in the Kottawa Arboretum

The Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus) is one of the three primate species endemic to Sri Lanka. Currently there are two recognized subspecies of the Red Slender Loris, the Sri Lanka Red Slender Loris (L. t. tardigradus) and the Sri Lanka Montane Slender Loris (L. t. nycticeboides). Of these, L. t. tardigradus inhabits rainforests in the southwestern region of the island while L. t. nycticeboides is restricted to the montane zone. Kottawa Arboretum harbors one of the few remaining L. t. tardigradus populations in the country. This study was conducted to determine the population density, habitat selection criteria and to asses the habitat availability of L. t. tardigradus in the Kottawa Arboretum. Using the line transect method, 34 sightings were made over a period of 21 months. Based on these observations the density of L. t. tardigradus in the Kottawa Arboretum and habitat selection criteria was ascertained. The calculated density of L. t. tardigradus in the Kottawa Arboretum is 41 animals/ km2. The average height of trees preferred by L. t. tardigradus is 13.97 m plus or minus 6.02. Most of the time lorises were observed at a height range of 3.5-15 m above the ground level. Average height from the ground level where L. t. tardigradus were observed to occupy the tree was 8.64 m plus or minus 5.00. Of the 50 tree species recorded in the Kottawa Arboretum, L. t. tardigradus was found to utilize only 16 species.

Applications and comparison of six methods for predicting parameters of the Weibull function in unthinned Picea glauca plantations

The objectives of this study were (1) to compare six methods for predicting parameters of the Weibull probability density function (PDF) for diameter at breast height (dbh) distribution in the unthinned white spruce plantations in eastern Canada with respect to their applicability, and (2) to evaluate their predictive abilities in terms of error index (EI) and Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) statistic. The reasons for undertaking this study were (1) there are no available models for the dbh distributions of the studied species and (2) to determine the best method for projecting dbh distributions of white spruce plantations. A total of 113 sample plots which consisted of the commonly measured stand-level variables [stand age (A), site index at 25-year base age (SI), average height of dominant and co-dominant trees (H d), and stand density (SD)] and associated diameter frequency distributions were used in this study. Of all the six prediction methods, the moment-based and percentile-based parameter recovery approach (PRM and PCT), maximum likelihood estimation regression (MLER), cumulative distribution function regression (CDFR) and parameter prediction method (PPM) were able to be applied for adequately modeling the diameter frequency distributions for the data sets used in this study. The moment-percentile estimation hybrid method (HYBM) performed the poorest. PCT was most highly recommended as it had the consistently lowest EI and K-S statistic values for both fit and validation data sets. Therefore, the dbh distributions for white spruce plantations could be predicted at a point over time using the established methods here, especially the PCT method, from the stand variables (A, SI, H d, SD).

Tree diameter, height and stocking in even-aged forests

• Empirical observations suggest that in pure even-aged forests, the mean diameter of forest trees (D, diameter at breast height, 1.3 m above ground) tends to remain a constant proportion of stand height (H, average height of the largest trees in a stand) divided by the logarithm of stand density (N, number of trees per hectare): D = β(H − 1.3)/ ln(N). • Thinning causes a relatively small and temporary change in the slope β, the magnitude and duration of which depends on the nature of the thinning. • This relationship may provide a robust predictor of growth in situations where scarce data and resources preclude more sophisticated modelling approaches. Mots-cles : monoculture / index de densite de peuplement / modele de croissance / diagramme de gestion de la densite

都市内残存林における９年間のヤマザクラの着花状況と消長

This paper aims to make clear the growing and flowering condition of Prunus jamasakura under succession of broadleaved evergreen forest in an abandoned coppice woodlands, for conserving the seasonal landscape and bio-diversity in urbanized area. In 2008, we conducted the follow-up survey in“Kohnosu-Yama Forest Reserve”, and compared the data collected in 1999. The results are as follows: (1) Number of P. jamasakura decreased from 272 to 235 mainly ascribed to suppressing and shading of surroundings such broadleaved evergreen trees as Castanopsis sieboldii, Neolitsea sericea, Cinnamomum camphora and Machilus thunbergii. The height of died P. jamasakura was less than 14m (average was 9.6m) and the DBH was less than 20cm (average was 14.3cm). (2) The average tree height of existing P. jamasakura increased from 11.0m in 1999 to 11.7m in 2008, and the DBH also increased from 20.9cm in 1999 to 25.0cm in 2008. The most growing tree's height and DBH increased 6.5m and 13.7cm respectively. (3) Total flowering somewhat decreased in 2008 compared in 1999. (4) Removing the surrounding evergreen trees by volunteer activity was effective for encouraging P. jamasakura.

Modeling production and decay of coarse woody debris in loblolly pine plantations

Forest management can have large impacts on the production and yield of coarse woody debris (CWD) in terrestrial ecosystems, yet few modeling tools exist to inform such efforts. The goal here was to develop a set of prediction equations for use in conjunction with loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) modeling and inventory systems to estimate CWD yields at scales ranging from individual trees to whole plantations. Permanent field plots from a 21-year study of thinning effects on plantation growth and yield across the commercial range of the species in the southern United States were surveyed to obtain sample data on CWD volume, density, and mass. Measured CWD properties were combined with inventory records of tree mortality over the study duration to characterize CWD production, decay and yield in a series of prediction equations. The resulting equations predict CWD attributes of dead trees including dry weight (kg) and fraction of standing versus downed woody material based on the time since death (years), tree diameter at breast height (cm) and height (m) at time of death and geographic coordinates of latitude and longitude. A stand-level equation predicts total CWD yield (Mg ha −1) for thinned or unthinned stands based on plantation age, stem density (trees ha −1), and the average height of dominant and codominant trees (m). Piece-level equations predict dry density (kg m −3) or nitrogen concentration (%) of CWD pieces based on their position (standing or down), ordinal decay classes, and latitude. The tree and stand-level prediction equations are designed for use in GIS or growth and yield modeling systems. The piece-level equations are designed to be used in inventory applications that survey CWD. The equations should facilitate the accurate and facile determination of mass, carbon, and nitrogen contents of CWD in planted loblolly pine forests of the southern United States.

Habitat selection of breeding brown eared-pheasants (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) in Xiaowutaishan National Nature Reserve, Hebei Province, China

From April to July of 2003–2005, we investigated habitat selection of breeding brown eared-pheasants (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) in the Xiaowutaishan National Nature Reserve, Hebei Province. Our results show that brown eared-pheasants preferred deciduous-coniferous mixed or deciduous forests with altitudes ranging from 1600 to 2200 m, steep gradients of slopes and medium or high positions on slopes. Moreover, they preferred habitats with more tree species, larger diameters at the breast height, more density and cover of trees and habitats with more types of grasses, high density and cover of grasses, but with fewer types of shrubs and lower density and cover of shrubs. They had larger territories in the early breeding stage than in the late breeding stage. There were significant differences in diameters at the breast height of trees, average height of trees, cover of trees, density of shrubs, cover of shrubs, aspect, distance to path, distance to water, distance to forest edge (P < 0.01, respectively), density of trees, type of shrubs, height of shrubs, type of grasses, density of grasses and proportion of bareness (P < 0.05, respectively). The result of the principal component analysis suggested that the principal components among the 23 habitat factors were the average height of trees, density of trees, diameters at the breast height of trees, density of shrubs, cover of shrubs and density of grasses. The differences in habitat selection of brown eared-pheasants between early breeding and late breeding stages may correlate with the dynamics of ambient environmental conditions, the reproductive behavior and energy requirements in their sub-stages of breeding.

Biomass functions and expansion factors in young Norway spruce ( Picea abies [L.] Karst) trees

Roots, stems, branches and needles of 160 Norway spruce trees younger than 10 years were sampled in seven forest stands in central Slovakia in order to establish their biomass functions (BFs) and biomass expansion factors (BEFs). We tested three models for each biomass pool based on the stem base diameter, tree height and the two parameters combined. BEF values decreased for all spruce components with increasing height and diameter, which was most evident in very young trees under 1 m in height. In older trees, the values of BEFs did tend to stabilise at the height of 3–4 m. We subsequently used the BEFs to calculate dry biomass of the stands based on average stem base diameter and tree height. Total stand biomass grew with increasing age of the stands from about 1.0 Mg ha −1 at 1.5 years to 44.3 Mg ha −1 at 9.5 years. The proportion of stem and branch biomass was found to increase with age, while that of needles was fairly constant and the proportion of root biomass did decrease as the stands grew older.

Landscape‐scale extent, height, biomass, and carbon estimation of Mozambique's mangrove forests with Landsat ETM+ and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission elevation data

Mangroves are salt tolerant plants that grow within the intertidal zone along tropical and subtropical coasts. They are important barriers for mitigating coastal disturbances, provide habitat for over 1300 animal species and are one of the most productive ecosystems. Mozambique's mangroves extend along 2700 km and cover one of the largest areas in Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the countrywide mean tree height spatial distribution and biomass of Mozambique's mangrove forests using Landsat ETM+ and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data. The SRTM data were calibrated using the Landsat derived land‐cover map and height calibration equations. Stand‐specific canopy height‐biomass allometric equations developed from field measurements and published height‐biomass equations were used to calculate aboveground biomass of the mangrove forests on a landscape scale. The results showed that mangrove forests covered a total of 2909 km2 in Mozambique, a 27% smaller area than previously estimated. The SRTM calibration indicated that average tree heights changed with geographical settings. Even though the coast of Mozambique spans across 16 degrees latitude, we did not find a relationship between latitude and biomass. These results confirm that geological setting has a greater influence than latitude alone on mangrove production. The total mangrove dry aboveground biomass in Mozambique was 23.6 million tons and the total carbon was 11.8 million tons.

Forest biomass at Xiaolong Mountain in Gansu Province, China

In order to accurately estimate the size of the carbon pool and the capacity of the carbon sink in the forested areas of Xiaolong Mountain in Gansu Province, we have established regression equations of organ biomass of eight tree species. We measured and investigated the biomass of different forest stand types based on data from 1259 standard sample plots and 836 standard sample trees. The results show that stand biomass, expressed in t·hm−2 for eight types of forest stands on Xiaolong Mountain, are as follows: Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata 84.05, Pinus tabulaeformis 62.44, Quercus variabilis 81.77, Populus sp. and Betula sp. combined 77.44, Larix sp. 69.00, Pinus armandii 70.07, Picea sp. 96.49 and Abies sp. 98.72. We also looked at other broad-leaved mixed forests. Our study shows that the biomass of a single tree of each tree species is closely related to the diameter at breast height (DBH) and to tree height. The biomass of single trees as well as stand volumes is closely related to average DBH, average tree height and to stand density.

An explicit stem profile model for forked and un-forked teak ( Tectona grandis) trees in West Africa

Studies on stem profile of teak ( Tectona grandis) hardly exist. This can be possibly attributed to the occurrence of forks that is prevalent on teak trees. Stem profile model was therefore developed for teak in West Africa, which took into account the occurrence of forks. Trees were destructively sampled from Moist Evergreen Forest (MEF), Moist Semi-deciduous Forest (MSDF), Dry Semi-deciduous Forest (DSDF) and Savannah ecological zones in both Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire for the study. A single set of parameters could be used explicitly to predict stem profile of any teak tree, irrespective of country, eco-climatic zone, edaphic variables, site index, tree age, stand density and tree competition. The model efficiency and root mean square error (in relative diameter) were calculated to be 0.97 and 0.053, respectively. The relative position of the forks along the stem bole, with respect to total tree height, was highly variable and did not follow any particular trend, except higher value for the first fork in the Moist Evergreen Forest zone. However, average tree height to the first fork decreased along the ecological gradient from MEF, MSDF and DSDF to Savannah. The extent of diameter reduction due to the forks could be predicted. Relative tree form for zero-forked, one-forked and two-forked trees was calculated to be 0.39, 0.36 and 0.33, respectively. Relative loss of stem volume due to one fork and two forks was estimated to be 6.5 and 13.9%, respectively. The measured stem volume when related to the corresponding predicted value yielded coefficient and intercept not significantly different from unity and zero, respectively, with an r 2 value of 0.97.

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of a Middle Miocene forest from the western Canadian Arctic

Abundant fossil plant remains are preserved in deposits of Middle Miocene age of the Ballast Brook Formation on Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Intact seed cones, logs, and stumps are preserved in situ as mummified remains and present an opportunity to reconstruct the composition, structure, and productivity of a Pinaceae-dominated forest that once grew north of the Arctic Circle (paleolatitude ca. 74°N). We mapped and measured 78 tree stumps exposed in three dimensions on a 0.12 ha peat layer. An analysis of the wood anatomy and seed cones indicates that a haploxylon pine dominated this lowland forest, although species of both Picea and Glyptostrobus were growing in the swamp as well. Stump diameters ranged from 7 cm to 108 cm (average = 42 cm). We utilized allometric relationships to predict tree heights based on the stump diameters in the fossil forest. Our results indicate that the average tree height of this Miocene forest may have been as large as 21 m. We used stump diameter data and predicted tree height to calculate the parabolic stem volume and stem biomass for the exposed area of fossil forest. Stem biomass (assuming an average wood density of 410 kg m − 3 ) may have been as great as 259 Mg ha − 1 or as little at 202 Mg ha − 1 . The annual ring width of the stem wood sampled in the field was 1.26 mm for Pinus, 1.20 mm for Picea and 0.21 mm for Glyptostrobus. Based on these growth rates, our estimate of biomass sequestered aboveground as wood is at most 3.8 Mg ha − 1 y − 1 . Based on our estimates, these lowland forest communities were of moderate biomass and productivity typical of modern cool temperate forests in North America.

Potentials of &lt;i&gt;Calliandra calothyrsus&lt;/i&gt; Meissner for Improving Soil Fertility and Maize Performance in the Forest Savannah Transition Zone of Cameroon

Farmers identified low fertility as a major problem affecting crop yield in Mbam Division, a forest-savannah transitional zone of Centre Cameroon. An experiment was therefore carried out in farmers\' fields in Kiki village for four consecutive years in order to investigate the effect of Calliandra calothyrsus planted fallow on soil fertility and maize yield improvement, as compared to natural fallow. The experimental design for each year was a randomised complete block with two fallow treatments (planted and natural) and nine replications (farms). In the first year, Calliandra calothyrsus fallows were established in nine farmers\' plots and plant growth was monitored for 12 months. From the second year, Calliandra trees were pruned each year in the first cropping season and maize (Zea mays L.) was grown between the Calliandra rows. Composite soil samples were collected from 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths at the beginning and at the end of the experiment, and were analysed for chemical properties. Cluster analysis (CA) was applied to the soil data to evaluate the comparability of the nine experiment farms. Analysis of variance and means separations (Tukey\'s method) were used to evaluate the effects of treatments on soil and maize yield. CA grouped the experimental farms into two different soil series named series 1 (n=6) and series 2 (n=3), differentiated mostly by the organic matter and exchangeable cation contents. After 12 months of Calliandra growth on the two soil series, average tree height was 2.07 m and diameter at breast height 1.7 cm; but, with a relatively low biomass production (0.92 t.ha -1 leaf and 1.6 t.ha -1 wood biomass). The natural fallow produced less total biomass than planted fallow (1.3 t.ha -1 herbaceous biomass). Despite this low biomass production, Calliandra treatments significantly (p Keywords : Biomass production, Calliandra growth, maize yield, planted fallow, soil chemical properties. Nigerian Journal of Soil and Environmental Research Vol. 7 2007: pp. 33-44