Relationships between tree species diversity with soil Chemical properties in semi-dry miombo woodland ecosystems
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
In Miombo woodland ecosystems, soil
nutrients play an important role in the
formation of plant communities. This study
hypothesized that soil nutrients have an
influence on tree species richness and
diversity in Miombo woodland ecosystems.
Important Value Index (IVI) and Shannon
Wiener diversity index (H′) were used to
indicate tree species dominance and
diversity respectively. Soil properties were
determined using laboratory standard
methods. Pearson correlation analyses were
performed in R software. Pterocarpus
tinctorius,
Pterocarpus
angolensis,
Brachystegia spiciformis and Julbernardia
globiflora were the dominant tree species in
terms of IVI. We recorded 123 tree species
with H′ value of 4.23. Tree species richness
was significantly (p < 0.05) direct correlated
with total N, available P, Mg, Na and cation
exchange capacity (CEC); and inversely
correlated with Ca. Tree species diversity
was significantly (p < 0.05) direct correlated
with K, Na and total exchangeable bases
(TEB); and inversely correlated with CEC.
Kitulang’halo semi-dry Miombo woodland
ecosystem is a typical miombo woodland
and it is rich in tree species diversity. Its soil
nutrients are also intact, suggesting that the
woodland is not so much subjected to
disturbances due to the current effective
management measures imposed. Therefore,
further studies in other ecosystems are
recommended.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Dominance, soil nutrient factors, tree species richness, importance value index