Analysis of the undergrowth in Gmelina plantation at Nwanforko Village along Enugu/Abakaliki Expressway Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State of Nigeria.
Abstract
Background: Gmelina aborea is a valuable economic tree used in constructing furniture , building houses and a number of other construction works. There many species of plant undergrowth in the Gmelina aborea plantation at Nwanforko village, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. This work is aimed at determining the plant species, and the factors responsible for the distribution of undergrowth in the site. Methodology: Multivariate factor analysis ordination technique was used in this analysis carried out in the Gmelina aborea plantation. Result: The plot and species ordinations revealed that fire tender plants were observed in the plantation, which was humid . When the soil minerals; nitrogen, calcium and potassium were plotted superimposed on the plot ordination, values of the undergroth showed that moisture and nutrients accounted for the separation of the species. Conclusion: The results showed that moisture and soil nutrient determine the distribution of undergrowth in the Gmelina aborea plantation, and that the Gmelina plantation had more trees and shrubs as undergrowth.