PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #107: Forest Ecology: Disturbance.
Presiding: H. Regan
Friday, August 9. 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Mesquite Room, Radisson.
Potential of two tropical indigenous plant species for reforestation of degraded mangal soils in Niger Delta, Nigeria.
Isirimah, Nnaemeka*,1, Ekeke, Ben2, Igwe, Chika3, 1 Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria2 Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria3 Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
ABSTRACT- A natural way of reestablishing ecological balance is the establishment of vegetative cover to improve degraded soil over time. In the Niger delta region of Nigeria, there are many dredge spoil dumpsites, which are bare and with no vegetation cover. A trial revegetation study was carried out successfully on a site abandoned for five years using available local plant species. Plants used were, Syzygium guineense, Dalbergia ecastophyllum, Chrysobalanus icaco and Alchornea cordifolia. The number of planted seedlings per species was respectively 500, 400, 80 and 20. The soil pH of the site at time of planting was 3.4. No external input was applied. After two years the survival rate counts were 87%, 75% 80% and 55% respectively. The soil pH rose from 3.4 to 3.6. Syzygium sp and Dalbergia ecastophyllum are the promising species which covered 50% of their stand area within two years after planting. More studies to determine area distribution of spoil dumpsites in Coastal Niger delta of Nigeria for reforestation are necessary.
KEY WORDS: Reforestation , Degraded mangal Soils , Tropical forest Species , Potential Forest Specie