Germination frequency of woody species in exotic plantation and bush fallow land area in Umuahia, Abia State

Abstract

In a field study involving 21-year old exotic plantations and a bush fallow land use system at Forestry Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Umuahia, Abia State, the germination of indigenous woody species and litterfall were monitored. Enumeration of indigenous woody species was carried out within a 3.5 x 3.5 quadrat plot. The Pine/Gmelina mixed stand had the highest level of germination among the exotic plantations with a total population of 140 species with 14 families followed by Pine stand with 121 species and 14 families while Gmelina stand had the least germination with 115 species and 11 families. Pine stand was significant (P<0.05) with the highest annual litterfall (10.000 kg/ha yr), followed by the Pine/Gmelina mixed stand (7.904 kg/ha yr), while the Gmelina had the least value of 7.875kg/ha among exotic plantation. The bush fallow system gave the least value of 5.014 kg/ha yr of annual litterfall. Higher quantity of floor litter and reduced light- reach to the floor inhibited the germination of native woody species. Mixed stands of exotic species favour conservation of native woody species.