Floristics and structure of fallow vegetation

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.