Correlation Analyses Of Measures Of Plant Biomass And Soil Attributes Under Bush Mango And Lowland Rainforest Trees In Nigeria

Abstract

Investigating the relationship between plants and soils is important for environmental management. This study looked at how measures of plant biomass correlated with soils under bush mango and lowland rainforest. The study adopted quasi experimental design, and applied stratified random sampling to subdivide the study area into 10 strata. Two sampling sites each was chosen from each strata (being bush mango stand and adjacent rainforest) thus, made up 20 sampling sites. Data collected were tree heights, tree diameters, and soil samples. Abney level was used to determine tree heights, girthing tape for tree diameters, and core sampler for soil samples collected from 0-15cm and 15cm-30cm soil depths. Laboratory analyses of the soil samples maintained standard procedures to obtain the concentrations of soil elements. Data generated were analysed with Pearson’s bivariate correlation statistics. Findings showed that biomass of the standing bush mango and adjacent rainforest trees correlated positively with soil elements under their stands. From the stands of bush mango, tree heights correlated positively with soil bulk density (0.135), porosity (0.151), water holding capacity (0.256) and sand (0.438); while tree diameters correlated positively with total organic matter (0.20), potassium (0.457), bulk density (0.592), water holding capacity (0.473), silt (0.562) and clay (0.072). Within the rainforest, tree heights positively correlated with total organic matter (0.302), potassium (0.613), bulk density (0.064), porosity (0.122), silt (0.755*), and clay (0.183); while tree diameters positively correlated with total nitrogen (0.325), porosity (0.036), water holding capacity (416), sand (0.548) and clay (0.191). Since measures of plant biomass of the stands of bush mangoes positively correlated with soil properties, their conservation as rainforest species is encouraged for proper ecosystem functioning and management.