RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TREE SPECIES DIVERSITY WITH SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN SEMI-DRY MIOMBO WOODLAND ECOSYSTEMS

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.