INFLUENCE OF TREE PLANTATION GMELINA ARBOREA AND GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM ON SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN ABAKALIKI, SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

INFLUENCE OF TREE PLANTATION GMELINA ARBOREA AND GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM ON SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN ABAKALIKI, SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author: Ota Henry Obiahu, Aja Daniel, Okolo Chukwuebuka Christopher, Oranu Chizoba Obianuju, Nwite, James Nte
Print ISSN : 2576-6732
Online ISSN : 2576-6724

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.02.2018.23.28

The study examined the influence of the two most prominent exotic species in Abakaliki, southeast, Nigeria and the nutrient accumulation on the soils. The plantations species were Gmelina arborea (Gmelina) established in 1988 and Gliricidia sepium established in the same year. The treatments were: Gmelina Plantation Area (GmPA), Gmelina Free Area GmFA, Gliricidia Plantation Area (GlPA), Gliricidia Free Area GlFA. The experiment was established as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four (4) treatments replicated six (6) times. Ground-truthing survey was carried out using a Geographical Positioning System (GPS) and the point data were keyed in into arc GIS software to delineate the study area. The Gmelina and Gliricidia plantation areas and their respective free areas were mapped into 6 plots, and on each plot, sampling points were randomly established, soil samples were taken using soil auger within 0-20cm soil depth. The overall results of exchangeable bases of the soil indicates that calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) differs significantly (P<0.05). However, potassium (K) and sodium (Na) did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from the influence of Gmelina and Gliricidia plantations. Our study further revealed that influence of tree plantation on physical properties showed significant difference (P<0.05) on sand, silt, clay, bulk density and gravimetric moisture content (GMC) except for total porosity which did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Tree plantation and biodiversity conservation ensure sustainable management of natural forest resources. Participation of NGOs and private individuals in plantation development could also be enhanced through the organized taungya farming system and other forms of tree planting like agroforestry system for improved soil conservation and restoration of degraded lands.