INFLUENCE OF CANOPY TYPES ON NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY IN SOIL AND LITTER POOLS OF A FOREST ECOSYSTEM

Influence of forest canopy types on nutrient availability in litter and soil pools of a forest ecosystem was studied. Four plots each were chosen randomly for open and close forest canopies. In each plot, 4 belt transects were laid, and in each transect, vegetation was sampled. Four litter traps were set in each plot, to collect litter samples in open and close canopies. In each plot, three soil samples (at 0-15 and 15-30 cm) were obtained in the open and close canopies with a soil auger and conveyed to the laboratory for analyses. The open and close canopy plots had 10 and 15 tree species. The close canopy had higher values for sand (91.19±0.01%), and silt (6.56± 0.01%) while the open canopy had high values for clay (3.13±0.01%). The pH of soil was very strongly acidic in the open (4.93±0.02) and close (4.56±0.58) canopies. Higher values for electrical conductivity (0.08±0.005 ds/m), total nitrogen (0.08±0.003 %), organic carbon (3.13±0.001 %), available phosphorus (13.06±0.01mg/kg), Ca (12.04±0.02 cmol/kg), Mg (6.62±0.58 cmol/kg), EA (2.25±0.01 cmol/kg) and ECEC (21.27±1.15 cmol/kg) were recorded in soil of the close canopy while higher values for Na (0.11±0.01 cmol/kg), K (0.13±0.02 cmol/kg) and base saturation (90.83±0.01%) were recorded in soil of the open canopy. For the litter, organic carbon (45.25±7.31%), total nitrogen (1.14±0.06%), Ca (18.33±1.45mg/kg), Mg (8.91±1.16mg/kg), K (284.89±12.25mg/kg), Na (75.71±8.32mg/kg) and P (2.60±0.41mg/kg) were higher in the close forest canopy. This study has implications in deforestation, nutrient availability and cycling as well as forest management and protection.