Responses of Tree Seedlings to the Removal of Chromolaena odorata Linn. in a Degraded Forest in Ghana

background

This study assesses the effects of Chromolaena odorata, a dense grass removal on native trees seedlings in a degraded dry semi-deciduous forest in Ghana.

Research Goals & Methods

Chromolaena odorata was removed from 50% of the plots and the other half left intact. Seedling height, the number of leaves per seedling, and seedling mortality were investigated in both released and unreleased plots immediately after the release treatment in June 1998 and again 3 months later September 1998.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The results showed the height increment was significantly increased in the released (ranging from 1.6-13.5cm) than in the unreleased (0.6-4.5cm) seedlings for all species. Steculia tragacantha showed the highest response among all species. Celtis zenkeri showed the lowest response among the species that responded significantly to release treatment. The released seedlings grew significantly more leaves than the unreleased ones for all species combined. In general faster growing species suffered higher seedling mortality on mortality. Generally, this study showed the potential to restore degraded lands to productive forests by removing Chromolaena odorata, the competing species. Observed in this study (3 months) height increment of the released seedlings, it may take the trees up to 2.5 years to grow taller than the maximum height of C. odorata.