TITLE:
Analysis of Land Use Change and Associated Implications on Soil Ecosystem Functions in South Eastern Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Nwabueze I. Igu, Chinero N. Ayogu, Chidimma C. Umeogu, Michael C. Obikwelu
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change, Ecosystem Services, Forest Loss, Modification, Soil Processes
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.5,
May
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: Land use change affects soil functions and its capacity to provide
ecosystem services. Though much of the tropics are experiencing accelerated
increases in land use change, associated impacts of such changes are poorly
understood and studied. This study assessed the extent to which land use
changes affect the soil ecosystem functions in a rainforest zone of south
eastern Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from 24 sample locations in
selected natural forest, cashew and palm plantations. Samples were analyzed in
triplicate in the laboratory for geochemical analysis, after which the result was
subjected to statistical analysis—ANOVA, correlation and regression. Forest
carbon had higher % mean carbon content; though there was no significant
difference (F (2, 21) = .246, p =
.784) in carbon level across land uses. R value of .301 showed low correlation
between % carbon, organic matter and % loss in ignition. Furthermore, R2 value of 9.1% total variation in the dependent variable could only be explained
by the independent variables. CEC, Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus content
of the land uses did not differ significantly: CEC (F (2, 21) = .844, p (.44); Nitrogen (.243), p (.79), Potassium (.140), p (.87), Phosphorus (.783), p (.47). This showed that there was no
significant variation in soil fertility of the land uses, although natural
forest had higher concentrations for these variables. Across the land uses,
soil texture equally had no significant variations: % sand (F (2, 21) = .320, p (.729) % clay (.430), p (.656), % silt (.043), p (.958). Soil carbon was seen to be
more enhanced in natural forest ecosystems than other land uses. Though
plantations had reduced capacities to provide ecosystem functions, establishing
such in modified landscapes is still advocated as they can coexist with such
and yet ensure ecosystem functions.