Soil-vegetation relationship in fresh water swamp forest

Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Biological Sciences - Year 2012, Vol 1, Issue 2

Abstract

Soil and vegetation relationships were studied in freshwater swamp forest in Ikot Umiang Ede in Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The systematic sampling method was used to sample the vegetation in 10 x 10m quadrats. Plants were identified to species level. Frequency, density, height, basal area and crown cover were determined for each species. In each quadrat two soil samples were taken and then bulked into a composite sample. A total of 40 soil samples were collected. Soil physiochemical properties were analysed in the Soil Science Laboratory of University of Uyo, Uyo. The results showed that Elaeis guineensis was the dominant species with 40% frequency of occurrence, while 11 plant species had the least occurrence of 5% frequency. They are Baphia nitida, Cyrtosperma senegalensis, Homalium letestui, Marantochloa cuspidata, Nauclea diderrichii, Poga oleosa, Palisota hirsuta, Smilax anceps and Smilax kranssiana. Bambusa vulgaris, had the highest density of 760 ± 62.8 stem /ha while Palisota hirsuta had the least density of 2.15 ± 0.00 stems/ha. Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides was the tallest plant with a height of 21.00±0.00m while Poga oleosa and Palisota hirsuta were the shortest species with a height of 0.01 ± 0.00m each. The soil was acidic (5.25 ± 0.11). Organic carbon, total nitrogen and potassium were low with mean values of 4.57 ± 0.25cmol/kg, 0.39 ± 0.02cmol/kg and 0.29 +0.00cmol/kg respectively. Exchangeable cations were low. Among the heavy metals, Fe had the highest mean value of 184.0 ± 52.54mg/kg. The soil had a high sand content (65.45 ±00.93%) and low silt and clay contents 23.25 ± 0.49 and 11.77±0.92%, respectively. Linear regression shows that, the relationship between soil parameters and plants density, height, crown cover and basal area were positive; indicating that soil parameters forms part of constellation of factors determining the existence of plants in the freshwater swamp.

Authors and Affiliations

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, K. O. Benson| Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

Keywords

Related Articles

Effect of canola oil on blood lipid in ostriches (Struthio camelus)

In order to study the lipid profile of ostriches in relation to diet, 6 blue-neck male ostriches (Struthio camelus) were used and fed with 3% canola oil supplement on diets adlibitum consisting. In the morning, after abo...

Parasitemia and antimalarial-induced histological alterations and oxidative stress in infected mice

In lieu of the reports on re-emergence of chloroquine sensitivePlasmodium falciparum, the choice of the drug for the treatment of malariaespecially in the endemic areas may not be ruled out. Here, we reported the antiox...

Recent progress in sustainable development and environmentally friendly energy systems: Case of Sudan

The move towards a low-carbon world, driven partly by climate science and partly by the business opportunities it offers, will need the promotion of environmentally friendly alternatives, if an acceptable stabilisation l...

Recent advances in biomass and biogas development and perspectives: bringing together geographical and sociological imaginations

Biogas from biomass appears to have potentialas an alternative energy source, and biomass resources are available worldwide.This is an overview of some salient points and perspectives of biogastechnology. The current lit...

Some of the effects of aqueous crude seed extract of datura stramonium on the histology of the frontal cortex and hippocampus of sprague dawley rats

This study was carried out in order to investigate some of the effects of aqueous seed extract of Datura stramonium on the histology of the frontal cortex and hippocampus of Sprague Dawley rats as marker of toxicity. 16...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP1062
  • DOI -
  • Views 575
  • Downloads 42

How To Cite

R. M. Ubom*, F. O. Ogbemudia, K. O. Benson (2012). Soil-vegetation relationship in fresh water swamp forest. Scientific Journal of Biological Sciences, 1(2), 43-51. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-1062