Effect of Prior Land Use on the Recolonization of Native Woody Species under Plantation Forests in the Highlands of Ethiopia
background
This study analyzes the recolonization of native woody species in 16-18 year old plantation forests (Eucalyptus saligna and Cupressus lusitanica) in the highlands of Ethiopia.
Goals & Methods
Effects of recolonization were evaluated through assessing naturally regenerating flora (NRF) and soil seed banks (SSB) in plantation forests established on abandoned farmland and cleared natural forest sites. About 66 plant species were recorded in the NRF and 55 plant species germinated from the soil samples collected for SSB analysis.
Conclusions & Takeaways
Naturally regenerating flora contained 49% woody plants and 45% herbs, while the seed bank contained 75% herbs. Prior land use (plantation established over abandoned farmland or over cleared forest) affected composition of seed bank but not of naturally regenerating flora. The authors conclude that natural regeneration of woody species under the plantation comes from seed dispersal and not from seeds already in the seedbank.
Reference:
. Effect of prior land use on the recolonization of native woody species under plantation forests in the highlands of Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management. 2005;218:60–73. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2005.07.010.
Affiliation:
- Debub University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry, Shashamane, Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia