THE RELATIONSHIP OF TOPOGRAPHY TO SOILS AND VEGETATION IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA ECOSYSTEM, NIGERIA
THE RELATIONSHIP OF TOPOGRAPHY TO SOILS AND VEGETATION IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA ECOSYSTEM, NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1985-12
Authors
IDOGA, Shaibu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The relationship between topography, soil and vegetation in the Northern Guinea ecosystem of Nigeria has been investigated. The results of the investigations revealed a strong inter, action between topography, soil development and both the species distribution and the general vegetation growth performance-
Soil depth increased down the slope. Soil texture became finer with decreasing altitude. The upland soils were generally more acidic than the lower slope soils. The soil organic carbon content and the
general soil nutrient status increased down the slope The soils of the crests and the upper slopes were
classified as Lithic Ustorthents and Plinthustults. Those of the middle slopes were; classified as Ultic
Paleustalfs and Ultic Haplustalfs while Vertic Tropaque^ts occupied the lower slope positions.
The distribution of the vegetation cover was found to be the apparent results of the local drainage
condition of the area. The vegetation cover of the crest and the upper slope surfaces was sparse and short
while that of the lower slopes was tall and dense with good ground^coverage. The distribution of the vegetation species revealed that Isoberlinia d*fea, and I. tomentose dominated the shrub layer of the uplands
whereas Piliostigma thonningii and Ziziphus mauritiana dominated the vegetation cover (shrub) of the lower
Description
A thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School Ahmadu Bello University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Soil Science DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA DECEMBER,
Keywords
TOPOGRAPHY,, SOILS,, VEGETATION,, NORTHERN GUINEA,, ECOSYSTEM,, NIGERIA