Effect of Tree Canopies and Leaf Litter on the Chemical Properties of Earthworm Casts of Umudike Soils

Ojimgba O., and Uwajimgba A. N.

Abia State University, Uturu, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, Umuahia Campus, Nigeria.

Accepted July 13, 2019

The effects of tree canopies and leaf litter on the chemical properties of earthworm casts were studied at Umudike, Nigeria. These studies were carried out under some multipurpose tree canopies such as cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), breadfruit (Treculia Africana Decne ), avocado pear (Persea Americana Mill) and mango (Mangifera indica L.) and were compared with the casts of their open adjacent sites which were 10m away. Generally, casts under tree canopies had significantly (P<0.05) higher values of pH, organic carbon, organic matter, total N, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable K, exchangeable Na, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and available phosphorus than the casts of their adjacent open sites. However, casts under cacao tree canopy had higher values of nutrient elements than those of mango, breadfruit and avocado pear, while casts outside tree canopies gave significantly (P<0.05) the least mean values. This study has shown that the integration of trees such as cacao on farms can help increase earthworm casts as well as the nutrient elements of the soils.

Key words: Effect, tree canopies, leaf litter, chemical properties, earthworm cast.

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