Browsing by Author "Muoghalu, Joseph Ikechukwu"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Effect of Tree Canopy Cover on Grass Species in Nigerian Guinea Savanna
    (1994) Muoghalu, Joseph Ikechukwu; Isichei, Augustine Onwuegbukiwe
    The effect of tree canopy cover on the yield, crude protein (CP), and fibre content of grass species in the Nigerian Guinea savanna was studied. The following grass species, Andropogon gayanus, Hyparrhenia involucrata, Hyparrhenia smithiana, Pennisetum polystachion, Rottboellia cochinchinensis, and Setaria barbata occur more under tree canopies than in the open. The overall yield under tree canopy and in the open was influenced by the proportionate contribution .of these species to the total yield. Grass yields were significantly higher under canopies provided by trees taller than 7 m than under shorter canopies. The difference between percentage CP, fibre, and lignin in plants growing under tree canopies and those in the open were not significant.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The Effects of Tree Canopy Cover on Soil Fertility in a Nigerian Savanna
    (1992) Isichei, Augustine Onwuegbukiwe; Muoghalu, Joseph Ikechukwu
    The effect of tree canopy cover on soil properties was studied over three periods: mid-dry season (January), mid-growth period (August) and peak-growth period (October) in three 1 ha plots in savanna of north-west Nigeria. The objective was to find out whether tree canopies change the nutrient status of the soil under them relative to adjacent grasslands. Soils under tree canopies were found to have significantly higher levels of organic matter, calcium, magnesium, potassium, total exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity and pH than those in open grasslands. Nitrogen and phosphorus were slightly higher in soils under tree canopies than those in the open grasslands. Trees 7m and above had more influence on soil properties than smaller trees. Differences in soil properties among the study plots were due to differences in their soil texture. Seasonal trends were observed in organic matter, carbon, nitrogen ratio, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, total exchangeable cations and percentage base saturation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Environment, organisms, interactions and continued life on earth.
    (Obafemi Awolowo University Press Limited, 2014-07-22) Muoghalu, Joseph Ikechukwu
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    Nine years of climber community dynamics in a Nigerian lowland rain forest 31 years after a ground fire
    (2016-12-30) Uwalaka, Nelson; Muoghalu, Joseph Ikechukwu
    Successional studies in tropical forests have generally emphasized the tree component, ignoring the community dynamics of non-tree life-forms, and so there is a limited understanding of how the plant community as a whole is changing during succession within forests. Thus, this study examined the changes in climber community composition and structure in a regenerating secondary lowland rain forest at Ile-Ife that was ravaged by a ground fire 31 years ago using six sample plots. All individual climbers in each sample plot were identified, enumerated and their girths at breast height were measured. The girths were measured at 1.3 m height or just before the point of branching. Our data were compared with those of previous studies in the forest to determine the changes in floristics and structure of climber community over the years using Sorenson’s similarity index. The mortality and recruitment rates in the forest during the course of succession were determined. Climber species increased from 49 (2005) to 61 (2014). Climber density increased astronomically from 448–1152 ha⁻¹ (2005) to 1712–4492 ha⁻¹ but basal area only increased slightly from 0.37–1.10 m² ha⁻¹ (2005) to 0.40–1.14 m² ha⁻¹. The recruitment rate (8%) was higher than the mortality rate (5.8%). The similarity of the climber species composition calculated using the Sorenson similarity index showed that the similarity between the two periods of study was 0.53 (53%). This study concluded that during the study period, the climber community changed, and climber species abundance and structure increased