Influence of Tree Characters and Climate on Litter Characteristics in Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel

Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management

OYEDEJI, S.¹  FATOBA, PO¹  OGUNKUNLE, CO¹  ANIBIJUWON, IF¹  ANIMASAUN, DA¹ 

关键词: Climate;    Daniellia oliverii;    litterfall;    nutrient cycling;    savanna;    tree characters;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：环境科学（综合）

来源: University of Port Harcourt * Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry

【 摘 要 】

Litter production and decomposition rates have great importance inmaintaining the fertility of the soil. The study was carried out to determine the relationshiptree characters (girth size, canopy radius, tree height, leaf area and number of primarybranches), litter production and quality, and climatic variables among stands of Daniellia oliveri(Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel growing in University of Ilorin campus. Twelve trees ofdifferent girth sizes were selected and their physiognomic characters measured. Litter samples(leaves and twigs) were collected from the stands on monthly basis (January to May) using 1m2 traps. The collected litters were air-dried, ground and analysed for carbon, nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium using standard methods. Rainfall andtemperature data were collected during the sampling months. Girth size range was 0.32 – 0.67m. Tree height range was 13.90 – 31.81 m. Primary branches range was 3 - 16, crown radiiwas 2.5 - 5.2 m and leaflet area between 24.62 cm2 and 90.90 cm2. Higher leaf litter wasrecorded in January and February, but twigs were more in the other months. Leaf and twiglitters positively correlated with girth size (r = 0.572 and 0.614 respectively), but the formeralso correlated with crown radii (r = 0.834). Carbon, calcium and magnesium contents inleaves and twigs were lower in May compared to January, but reverse trend were observed fornitrogen and phosphorus. The number of rain (rainy days) negatively correlated with totalmonthly litter (r = -0.291). The study concluded that climatic conditions influence treecharacters, which in turn affect litterfall and nutrient returns to the soil.

【 授权许可】

Unknown