Floristics and structure of fallow vegetation

Authors

  • R.M. Ubom Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria
  • F.O. Ogbemudia Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria
  • R.E. Ita Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

Keywords:

Floristics, Vegetation-environment, Soil, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Exchangeable acidity

Abstract

Vegetation-environment (soil) was studied in fallow plots in Uyo, ranging from 0-year-old to 6-year-old. Systematic sampling method was used to sample both vegetation and soil. The parameters determined for vegetation included; Height, Frequency, Basal area and Crown cover for all species. The soil physical and chemical properties were also determined. Results obtained showed that there were eight (8) plant species in the 0-year old plot, 12 species in the 2-year old plot, 20 species of plants in 4-year old plot and 23 species of plants in the 6-year old plot. The soils were acidic across the years of fallow, but most acidic in 6-year old plot. Organic carbon was high in 4-year old plot, exchangeable cations decreased along the fallow, available phosphorus increased in 0, 2 and 4 year old and decreased in 6-year old plot. The percentage of sand increased as years of fallow increased. The texture of the soil in all the plots was loamy sand. Correlation co-efficient of soil parameters showed that magnesium, potassium, zinc, irons, silt, organic carbon, calcium, exchangeable acidity, total nitrogen, base saturation influenced the vegetation parameters. The vegetation parameters were significant at P = 0.05.

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Published

2012-08-29

How to Cite

Ubom, R. ., Ogbemudia, F. ., & Ita, R. . (2012). Floristics and structure of fallow vegetation. Scientific Journal of Biological Sciences, 1(2), 61-69. Retrieved from http://sjournals.com/index.php/sjbs/article/view/1142

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Original Article