Summary
This study examines the woody vegetation, annual leaf-fall and annual wood-fall in Southern Guinea savanna near Mokwa, Nigeria. There were 1425±402 (95% limits) trees ha-1 of which Caesalpiniaceous legumes made up 53%. Annual leaf-fall was 2.387 t ha-1 a-1 equivalent to 11,238,932 kcal ha-1 a-1 and was highly seasonal, peaking from November to February, with a maximum in January after the annual bush fires. Annual wood-fall was 1.391 t ha-1 a-1 equivalent to 7,598,256 kcal ha-1 a-1 and was less seasonal but with two peaks, one from January to March after the fires and another from May to July in the rainy season.
The litter-fall data currently available from West Africa are reviewed and indicate a negative correlation between litterfall and latitude (P<0.001). Litter production is found to be positively correlated with rainfall (P<0.001) and it is suggested that seasonal distribution of rainfall may also be a factor contributing to the limits of litter production.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartholomew, W.V., Meyer, J., Laudelot, H.: Mineral nutrient immobolisation under forest and grass fallow in the Yangambi (Zaire) region with some preliminary results on the decomposition of plant material on the forest floor. Publs Inst. natn. Étude agron. Congo belge, Ser. Sci. 57, 27 pp. (1953)
Bernhard, F.: Étude de la litière et de sa contribution au cycle des éléments minéraux en forêt ombrophile de Côte d'Ivoire. Oecol. Plant. 5, 247–266 (1970)
Bille, J.C.: Graines et diaspores des plantes herbacées du Sahel. Production et dynamique, OR-STOM-Sahel. Rapport du Centre de Dakar, 45 pp. (1973a)
Bille, J.C.: L'ecosystème sahélien de Fété-Olé. Essai de bilau au niveau de la production primaire nette annuelle. ORSTOM-Sahel, Rapport du Centre de Dakar, 66 pp. (1973b)
Bray, J.R., Gorham, E.: Litter production in the forests of the world. Adv. Ecol. Res. 2, 101–157 (1964)
Cornforth, I.S.: Leaf-fall in a tropical rain-forest. J. appl. Ecol. 7, 603–608 (1970)
Fanshawe, D.: The vegetation of Zambia. For. Res. Bull. Min. Rural Dev. Zambia, 1–67 (1971)
Hopkins, B.: Vegetation of the Olokomeji Forest Reserve, Nigera. II. The climate with special reference to its seasonal changes. J. Ecol. 53, 109–138 (1965)
Hopkins, B.: Vegetation of the Olokomeji Forest Reserve, Nigeria., IV. The litter and soil with special reference to their seasonal changes. J. Ecol. 54, 687–703 (1966)
Hopkins, B., Stanfield, D.P.: A field key to the savanna trees of Nigeria, 39 pp. Ibadan: University Press 1966
Jenny, H., Gessel, S.P., Bingham, F.T.: Comparative study of decomposition rates of organic matter in temperate and tropical regions. Soil Sci. 68, 419–432 (1949)
John, D.M.: Accumulation and decay of litter and net production of forest in tropical West Africa. Oikos 24, 430–435 (1973)
Josens, G.: Études biologiques et ecologique des termites (Isoptera) de la savanne de Lamto-Pakobo (Côte d'Ivoire). These et Sciences,Bruxelles (1972)
Keay, R.W.J.: Vegetation map of Africa south of the Tropic of Cancer. Oxford: University Press 1959
Keay, R.W.J., Onochie, C.F.A., Stanfield, D.P.: Nigerian trees, 2 Vols.Fed. Dept. Forest Res., Ibadan (1960, 1964)
Kirita, H., Hozumi, K.: Loss of weight of leaf-litter caught in litter trays during the period between successive collections-a proposed correction for litter fall data to account for the loss. Jap. J. Ecol. 19, 243–246 (1969)
Laudelot, H., Meyer, J.: Les cycles d'éléments mineraux et de matière organique en forêt equatoriale congolaise. Comptes rendu. Congrès Ve International de la Science du Sol 2, 267–272 (1954)
Lepage, M.: Les termites d'une savane Sahélienne (Ferlo Septentrional, Senegal): peuplement, populations, consommation, rôle dans l'écosysteme. D.Sc. Thesis, University of Dijon (1974)
Madge, D.S.: Leaf-fall and litter disappearance in a tropical forest. Pedobiologia 5, 273–288 (1965)
Malaisse, F.: Contribution à l'étude de l'écosystème forêt claire (Miombo) Note 8: Le projet Miombo. Ann. Fac. Sci. Abidjan Ser. Ecol. 6, 227–250 (1973)
Malaisse, F., Freson, R., Goffinet, G., Malaisse-Mousset, M.: Litter-fall and litter breakdown in Miombo. In: Tropical ecological systems. Ecological studies, Vol. 11 (F.B. Golley, E. Medina, eds.). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1975
Newbould, P.J.: Methods for estimating the primary production of forests. IBP Handbook No. 2. Oxford: Blackwell 1967
Nye, P.H.: Organic matter and nutrient cycles under moist tropical forest. Pl. Soil. 13, 333–346 (1961)
Richards, P.W.: Ecological studies on the rain forest of southern Nigeria. I. The structure and floristic composition of the primary forest. J. Ecol. 27, 1–61 (1939)
Valette, J.: The reconnaissance soil survey of the Mokwa-Kontagora-Kainji area, North-Western and Kwara States, Nigeria. Soil Survey Bull.(Samuru) 44, 1–109 (1973)
Whittaker, R.M.: Communities and ecosystems, 162 pp. London: Collier-Macmillan 1970
Wood, T.G.: Field investigations on the decomposition of leaves of Eucalyptus delegatensis in relation to environmental factors. Pedobiologia 14, 343–371 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Collins, N.M. Vegetation and litter production in Southern Guinea savanna, Nigeria. Oecologia 28, 163–175 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345252
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345252