Soil rehabilitation through afforestation: evaluation of the performance of Eucalyptus and pine plantations in a Nigerian Savanna environment
✍ Scribed by I. A. Jaiyeoba
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2001
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 134 KB
- Volume
- 12
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1085-3278
- DOI
- 10.1002/ldr.447
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
On the outskirts of Zaria, northern Nigeria, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Pinus oocarpa plantations have been established to satisfy both land rehabilitation and agroindustrial objectives. Soils of the plantations and adjacent unafforested degraded sites where major influences from soil type and management were minimal were sampled to provide data for a parallel investigation of the effect of afforestation on soil rehabilitation. Three adjacent age–grade plantations in respect of each tree species were involved. These are 6, 13 and 27 years for eucalyptus, and 7, 15 and 25 years for pines. Results obtained showed that the rate of soil regeneration in the context of present silvicultural practices is extremely slow. Of the soil parameter studies, only organic matter shows significant improvement within the examined time frame. The soil texture, bulk density, infiltration rate, nutrient elements and pH showed only slight improvement. There was little evidence to suggest that either of the tree species had a more beneficial effect on the soil than the other. The significance of the results is discussed in terms of land‐use decision and policies in Nigeria towards a sustainable afforestation programme. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.