Effect of Wildfire on Weed Floristic Composition and Soil Status in a Teak (Tectonia grandis L.) Plantation at Ilorin, Nigeria
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Date
2019
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Faculty of Agriculture, Taraba State University, Jalingo, Nigeria
Abstract
Teak is widely planted for timber in the tropics, grown in botanical gardens as an ornamental for its large leaves and
spreading flower clusters. The study was conducted on a Teak Plantation established in phases between 2008 and 2012 to
examine the impact of wildfire on weed seedling emergence and soil nutrients at Ilorin within the southern Guinea savanna
of Nigeria. Soil samples were collected within three depths (0-10 cm, 11-20 cm and 21-30 cm) few days after the plantation
was burnt by uncontrolled wildfire in 2016 and 2017. The weed seeds present were enumerated and soil properties
analysed. Floristic weed survey was conducted on the teak plantation between May and November of each year. Results
showed that Andropogon gayanus (18%), Tephrosia pedicellata (17%) and Senna obtusifolia (11%) were the most
abundant weed species. Wildfire significantly (p<0.05) influenced weeds emergence. Twenty–five weed species were
identified during the floristic weed survey. Twenty-two (22) % and 14 % of the identified weed species emerged on the
burnt and unburnt field, respectively. Silt decreases while sand and clay fractions increased in the burn fields. Total N,
organic C and available P increased in alternate years and depth of soil sampling. This result is valuable in aiding the
prediction of likely weed infestations in a wildfire affected field, provide a valuable input in determining weed control
strategy and soil nutrient management
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Keywords
Floristic survey, burning, bushfire, weed emergence, seed bank, soil properties