Relationship of woody plants to herbaceous production of Nigerian savannah

Authors

  • William W. Sanford Department of Botany, The University of Ife, Nigeria
  • Sugei Usman Department of Botany, The University of Ife, Nigeria
  • Emmanuel O. Obot Department of Botany, The University of Ife, Nigeria
  • Augustine O. Isichei Department of Botany, The University of Ife, Nigeria
  • Musa Wari Department of Botany, The University of Ife, Nigeria

Keywords:

Trees (plants), Grasses, Density, Management

Abstract

Evidence is presented that a light, high tree canopy leads to greater production of grasses in the Nigerian Guinea savanna than either full exposure or dense canopy. Furthermore, some shading provides a micro-environment where such favoured species as the Andropogons replace such undesirable species as Schizachyrium sanguineum and Hyparrhenia species. The role of trees in open rangeland in relation to mineral cycling and soil maintenance is briefly discussed. It is recommended that the common practice of clearing all trees to improve rangeland is stopped and a low density of large trees, preferably legumes, be maintained.

How to Cite

Sanford, W. W., Usman, S., Obot, E. O., Isichei, A. O., & Wari, M. (1982). Relationship of woody plants to herbaceous production of Nigerian savannah. Tropical Agriculture, 59(4). Retrieved from https://journals.sta.uwi.edu/ojs/index.php/ta/article/view/2816

Issue

Section

Research Papers