CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Soil which has over the years been a
basic resources for agricultural production and the most important possession
and asset of farmers, is made up of different features and characteristics that
make it unique, (Brady and Wiels, 1999). Under natural condition, the level or
rate at which soil build up is anchored on the differences that exist between
the additions and losses of organic matters, physical, chemical properties and
other variables that form soil.
These additions could be from animal
and plant decay while losses are enhanced or caused by immobilization and to a
certain degree burning sometime lead to leaching causing soil loss beyond the
root zone. The soil organic matter is also a characteristics constituent of the
soil ecosystem and it controls the soil physical, biological and chemical
properties (Olayinka 1990).
Fire is the most fundamental and
effective cultural and land treatment tool in the hands of humans (Goldammer
and Grulzen 1993). Earliest evidence of the use of fire dates back to
1.5million year’s age, when natural fire regimes were successfully altered by
humans (Brain and Sillen 1988). Large areas of forest formation have been
shaped and maintain by anthropocentric fires, and in most regions of the earth,
human caused fires are more important that natural fires. (Goldammer and
Grutzen, 1993). Burning destroys the litter layer and so diminishes the amount
of organic matter returned to the soil. The organisms that inhabit the surface
soil and litter layer are also eliminated. For future decomposition to take
place, energy has to be invested first in rebuilding the microbial community
before plant nutrients can be released. Fallow lands and bush are burned before
cultivation; this provides a rapid supply of phosphorous to stimulate seed
germination. However, the associated loss of nutrients, organic matter and soil
biological activities has served long-term consequences. Bush burning is a
typical type of cultivation practiced in Ali-Ogo Ekoli in Ebonyi state South
East Nigeria, the system involves essentially cutting and burning of the
vegetations before cultivation.
Burning of vegetation in these area
has a catastrophic effect, affects the ecosystem and physiochemical
characteristics and properties of the soil. Much attention has not been paid to
the effect of bush burning on physical and chemical properties of the soil. The
effects of the heating processes caused by severe bush fire on soil are a
result of burning severity, which is determined by the peak temperatures and
duration of fire (Certini, 2005). Low to medium fire severity resulted in
darkening of the topsoil while high severity fire (>600oc) cause
pronounced reddening of the topsoil, accompanied by an increase in both munsell
value and chroma (Ulery and Graham, 1993 ; Ketterings and Bigham, 2000).
With a review of bush burning on soil
properties, Certini (2005) concluded that low to moderate severity fires result
in a renovation of the dominate vegetation by the elimination of undesired
species and transient increase in pH and available nutrients in the soil, while
severe burning generally lead to a great significant loss of organic matter,
deterioration of both structure and porosity, leaching and erosion, among other
drawbacks. Burning influences soil temperature, which in turn affects soil
physio-chemical processes such as seed germination, root growth, plant
development and bio-microbial activity (Potter et al, 1987). Based on the
concentration, the main objectives of the research work is to determine changes
in physio-chemical properties of Ali-ogo soil under the influence of bush fire.
1.1 SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVE
The
specific objectives are to determine
i. Changes in physical properties of the
soil
ii. Changes in the chemical properties of
the soil
iii. Effect of bush burning on heavy metal accumulation in
soil
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD
STUDY AREA
The research was conducted at
Ali-ogo Ekoli Edda under the management of Ekoli in Afikpo south Local
Government area of Ebonyi State Abakaliki South East Nigeria. Ebonyi State lies
within latitude 6o, 45N and longitude 8o, 65E in the
derived savannah zone of the southern Agro-ecological zone Nigeria. The area
that was used lies in the humid tropics with high rainfall and high
temperature, the mean annual rainfall of this zone for 2009 and 2010 based year
was 1466. 32mm obtained from 87 rain days with a fairly defined peak rain
period of six months from April to September.
The maximum and minimum temperature
is 32.180c and 17,40c respectively while the relative
humidity ranges from 50-87% and mean of 68.42%. The soil belongs to the order
spodic horizon and association derived from humid climate. The soil textural
class is sand loam.
SOIL SAMPLING
Within each location, a soil sample
was collected from the soil depth 0 – 30cm and bulked (composite soil sample).
The bulked soil sample was mixed up thoroughly and three (3) representative
samples that have been collected were labeled in a sample bag. Each sample
becomes a replicate. These soil samples was used to determine the soil chemical
properties after these set of samples, another soil sample was collected with
soil auger attached with core sampler at the depth of 0 – 30cm respectively,
and was used to determine the physical properties and heavy metals accumulation
in the soil.
LABORATORY METHODS
The
physical parameters to be analyzed are:
The
bulk density was determined using the core method and constant heat methods
using Blake and Hartage method (1986).
Total
porosity was determined using the method described by Obi (2000).
Soil
Moisture content was determined using the gravimetric method by the formula
Weight
of wet soil – weight of oven dried soil x 100 divided by weight of wet soil.
Soil
hydraulic conductivity was determined using method by Klute, 1986.
Infiltration
rate was determined by the method as described by Landon, 1991.
Soil
temperature was determined using soil thermometer
Soil
texture was determined using the hydrometer method described by Bouycous (1962),
Day (1965).
SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Organic
carbon was determined using the walkey- black method (Nelson and Sommers 1982).
Organic
matter content was obtained by multiplying the percentage organic carbon by a
factor of 1.724.
Exchangeable
cation Ca, k, Mg, and Na was extruded with ammonium acetate and their amount in
filtrated determined by Perkins Elmer atomic absorption spectrophotometer (A
.A. S)
Exchangeable
acidity determination was done by titration methods (Tel and Rao, 1982).
Nitrogen
was determined using macro-Kjehdal method (Bremmer and Mulvacy 1982).
Available
phosphorus was determined using Bray 2 method by Bray and Kurtz (1998).
Total
acidity and exchangeable bases was determined according to procedures by Tel
and Hargarty (1984)
Soil
pH was determined using glass electrode pH meter in water (Mclean 1982).
HEAVY METAL DETERMINATION
The heavy metals were determined using
the Atomic Adsorption spectrophotometer machine (AAS) the following were the
heavy metals that were analyzed Zn, Bo, Fe, and Mo.
3.1 DATA ANALYSIS
Data
collected was analyzed using coefficient of variation Steal and Tone (1980).
And the soil property was rated using Landon, 1984 and Melson, 1990.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 THE EFFECT OF BUSH BURNING ON CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES OF SOIL
pH
The pH of the experimental site revealed that the
burnt area was statistically different from the unburnt area when compared with
each other. The pH of the unburnt and burnt area was 5.97 and 6.15
respectively. The result shows that the burnt area was 5units more acidic than
the unburnt area. This is because during the combustion process, several
previously bound nutrients are released in their elemental or radical form.
These processes is described by the National Wildlife Coordinating Group
(2001), certain cations, are stable at typical combustion temperature and
remain onsite after burning in form of ash. If in the ash form are subsequently
leached into the soil where they exchange with H+ ions, the
resulting increase in H+ ions in solution increases the pH of the
burnt area and ash deposited after burning is composed mostly of salts, these
salts can effectively increase soil pH by capturing the salt cations as they
leach through the soil profile. The result shows moderately to slightly acidic
in the unburnt are and burnt area (Ulery et
al., 1993)
TOTAL NITROGEN
The result of the effect of bush burning on total N of
the soil shows no statistical significance difference in the unburnt and burnt
area. The result was 0.12 and 0.09% respectively. There was 3% slight increase
in total nitrogen of the unburnt area. This is as a result that all of the
nitrogen in soils is contained in and is an essential part of the organic
matter or humus and also the nitrogen in soil results from biological fixation
and from accumulation of plant residue over a long period of time. The level of
nitrogen recorded low to medium in the unburnt and burnt area. The decrease of
nitrogen in burnt area is as a result of heating which causes decrement and
because some are lost through volatilization (Fisher and Binkly, 2000).
CALCIUM
The calcium of the experimental site revealed that
there was statistical difference in calcium level of the unburnt and burnt area
when compared together. The result was 2.88 and 1.86Cmol/100g respectively.
This shows that there was an increase in calcium of the unburnt area than that
of the burnt area. This is because calcium is present in adequate amounts in
most soils; calcium is a component of several primary and secondary minerals in
the soil. It increases in unburnt area because calcium is not considered a
leach able nutrient; however it will move deeper into the soil. Because of
this, and the fact that many soils are derived from limestone bedrock, many soils
have higher level of Ca (Goh et al.,
1996). The decrease in calcium level of the burnt area may be caused by
environmental factors and it could be removed in particulate form by convention
in smoke columns or by surface wind transport during and after burning (Goh and
Phillips, 1991). The calcium in the soil recorded medium to high (Landon,
1991).
AVAILABLE PHOSPHORUS
The effect of bush burning on available phosphorus
recorded 43.29 and 8.04Cmol/100g for the unburnt and burnt area. This shows
that there was statistical difference of phosphorus in both areas. The increase
of phosphorus in unburnt area may be as a result of phosphate precipitation and
dissolution. Phosphate precipitation is a process in which phosphorus react
with another substance to form a solid mineral and dissolution of phosphate
mineral occurs when the mineral dissolves and releases phosphorus, the reaction
of phosphate with another substances to
form a solid mineral aids the increase of phosphorus in the unburnt area and
also the increase implies that there was no disturbance in the compartment of
available phosphorus in the unburnt
while there is a decrease of phosphorus in the burnt area due to fire
severity which induced losses of available phosphorus through volatilization.
This is in line with the findings of Cade-Manun et al (2000). The result recorded marginal to rich classes of
phosphorus in critical level for available phosphorus (Serrasolsas and Khanna,
1995).
MAGNESIUM
The magnesium of the experimental site revealed that there
was statistical difference when the unburnt and burnt area was compared
together. The level of magnesium in the unburnt and burnt area was 0.69 and
0.47mg/l respectively. The unburnt area is 22% high than that of the burnt
area. This may be because magnesium is held on the surface of clay and organic
matter particles and the soil pH of the unburnt area is not as high as that of
the burnt area (George et al., 1994).
The magnesium level recorded low according to its rating and availability
(Simard et al., 2001).
POTASSIUM
The result of the effect of burning on potassium
content of the soil showed that there was difference when the unburnt and burnt
area was compared with one another. The level of potassium in the unburnt and
burnt area of Ali-ogo Ekoli soil was 0.26 and 0.36Cmol/100g soil. There was 10%
more in potassium level of the burnt area and this may be as a result of
environmental factors like wind and rainfall which played a major role in the
concentration of potassium after burning in the burnt area (Ulery et al., 1993). Generally, the level of
potassium is recorded medium classes of potassium availability in the soil
(Wild, 1987).
SODIUM
The sodium of the research site showed that there was
no statistical significant from the unburnt and burnt area when compared
together. The sodium of the unburnt and burnt area was 0.15 and 0.10Cmol/100g
soil respectively. The slight reduction in sodium of the burnt area may be as a
result of leaching since sodium is weakly held by the soil colloid (Simard et al., 2001). The level of sodium in
the soil recorded low according to its classification which is deficient in the
unburnt and burnt soils (Kotisch et al.,
1987).
EXCHANGEABLE CATION
The result of the effect of bush burning on
exchangeable cation of the soil showed that there was statistical difference
when the two areas were compared together. The result of both the unburnt and
burnt area was 14.00 and 17.00mg/100g soil. There was high differential value
increase of exchangeable cation in the burnt area which was in accordance with
the findings of Parkinson, 1998. The increase may be as a result of ash deposit
in the burnt area that makes the soil acidic. This recorded high exchangeable
cation value according to the ranking (Kattering et al., 2000).
EFFECTIVE CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY
The effect of bush burning on effective cation
exchange capacity revealed the following result 3.49 and 3.88mg/100g in unburnt
and burnt area respectively. From the result, there was 39% increase of
effective cation exchange capacity in the burnt area. The reason of this
increase may be as a result of ash deposit on the burnt area and ash deposited
contains Fe³+, Mg²+ which provide exchange site for ion
interactions to take place. Soils with large amount of cation exchange capacity
are chemically stable (Parkinson, 1998). The effective cation exchange capacity
recorded medium according to its classification (Oswald et al. 1999; Badia and Matni, 2003).
EXCHANGEABLE SODIUM PERCENTAGE
The effect of burning on exchangeable sodium of the
soil showed that there was significant difference when the unburnt and burnt
area was compared together. The result of the unburnt and burnt area was 2.86
and 3.23% respectively. There was 37% more exchangeable sodium in the burnt
area and this increase may be as a result of ash deposit that leads to cation
concentration in the burnt area. Kattering et
al., (2000), Parkinson, (1998).
EXCHANGEABLE ACIDITY
The exchangeable acidity of the experimental site
showed that there was no statistical significant from the unburnt and burnt
area. The value recorded was 0.47 and 0.47Cmol/100g respectively. The unburnt
and burnt area recorded low values in its classification according to Landon
1991. (Badia et al., 2003).
BASE SATURATION
The result of the effect of bush burning on percentage
base saturation of the soil showed that there was statistical difference when
the unburnt was compared with the burnt area of Ali-ogo Ekoli. The percentage
base saturation in the unburnt and burnt area was 80.44 and 87.72% respectively.
There was about 728% more base saturation in the burnt area. This may be as a
result of the proportion of the cation exchange site in the burnt area that are
occupied by the various cations (H, Ca, Mg, k).The surfaces of soil mineral and
organic matter have negative charged cations. Cations with one positive charge
(H, K, Na) will occupy one negatively charged site and cations with two
positive charges (Ca, Mg) occupied two sites on the burnt area according to the
findings of Serrasolsas and Khanna (1995).
ORGANIC CARBON
Organic carbon is the amount of carbon bound in and
organic compound. The effect of burning on unburnt and burnt area of Ali-ogo
Ekoli showed that there was significant difference in both the unburnt and
burnt area. The result of th4e unburnt and burnt area was 12.29 and 6.29% when
compared with one another. There was difference of about 600% more of organic
carbon in the unburnt area than that of the burnt area. The reason of high
level of organic carbon in the unburnt area may be as a result of leave fall,
plant and animal decay and excess litter layer on the soil surface of the
unburnt area which are not disturbed nor altered (Fortner et al., 2007). The organic carbon content of the unburnt and burnt
area recorded medium to high in the rating of organic carbon content. Also, the
decrease in organic carbon of the burnt area may be as a result of denaturation
of organic carbon present in the soil as supported by the findings of Guinto et al., 1999 who found that fire induced
a reduction in organic carbon ratio of soil.
TABLE 1:
EFFECT OF BUSH BURNING ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
|
|
pH
H2O
|
EC
(mg/100g)
|
ESP
(%)
|
OC
(%)
|
Total N
(%)
|
Avail P
(Cmol/100g)
|
Ca
(Cmol/100g)
|
Mg
(Mg/L)
|
K
(Cmol/100g)
|
Na
(Cmol/100g)
|
EA
(Cmol/100g)
|
Bs
(%)
|
ECEC
(Mg/100g)
|
|
Unburnt Area (A)
|
5.97a
|
14.00a
|
2.86a
|
12.29a
|
0.12a
|
43.29a
|
2.88a
|
0.69a
|
0.26a
|
0.15a
|
0.47a
|
80.44a
|
3.49a
|
|
Burnt Area (B)
|
6.15b
|
17.00b
|
3.23b
|
6.29b
|
0.09a
|
8.04b
|
1.86b
|
0.47b
|
0.36b
|
0.10a
|
0.47a
|
87.72b
|
3.88b
|
|
F-LSD P = 0.05
|
0.01
|
0.05
|
0.12
|
2.4
|
NS
|
6.42
|
0.12
|
0.01
|
0.03
|
NS
|
NS
|
2.14
|
0.01
|
Figures
with the same super sample are not statistically significant.
4.2 THE EFFECT OF BUSH BURNING ON SOIL SELECTED
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
BULK DENSITY
The effect of burning showed statistical difference in
the unburnt and burnt area of Ali-ogo Ekoli. The result recorded 1.53 and
1.69cm‾³ in unburnt and burnt area respectively. This result shows that there
was 16% increase in bulk density in the burnt area; the reason may be due to
high clay, silt and sand content in the burnt area (Webster and Wilson, 1980).
The bulk density of the unburnt and burnt area recorded low bulk density
according to the rating of Landon, 1991. The slight increase of bulk density of
the burnt area may also be because of collapse of aggregates and clogging of
voids by the ash (Certini, 2005).
TOTAL POROSITY
Total porosity does not provide any direct information
about the size of the individual pores, or their functions. It is an expression
of the total volume of a soil that may act as a store for air and water. The
result of the effect of bush burning on total porosity of the unburnt and burnt
area was 40.37 and 36.23%. The reason for decrease in total porosity of burnt
area may be as a result of destruction of soil structure by fire which also affects
pore size distribution in the surface horizons of the burnt soil (DeBano et al., 1998). According to Landon 1991,
the two values of unburnt and burnt area are of very high classes in the
classification rating.
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
The effect of burning on hydraulic conductivity of
soil showed statistical difference in the unburnt and burnt area when compared
together. The result recorded 30.21 and 31.42Cmhr‑¹ respectively. This shows
that there was 121% more of hydraulic conductivity of the burnt area, this
result may be because the size, shape, and continuity of the pore spaces,
structure and the soil texture of the burnt area was altered and tempered with
by fire (Thomas et al., 1996).
According to soil permeability classification, the result recorded very rapid
hydraulic conductivity according to the classification (Landon, 1991).
MOISTURE CONTENT
The result of the unburnt and burnt area of Ali-ogo
Ekoli recorded 12.0 and 16.0% when compared with one another. There was more
moisture content in the burnt area. The reason may be due to burning of the
organic matter, plant residues that cover the soil surface that may have seal
the soil surface and crusting has been burnt off thereby making the soil to be
moisture absorber (Roth, 1985). The moisture content of the unburnt and burnt
area recorded high according to the rating. (Landon, 1991)
SAND, SILT AND CLAY
The percentage sand fraction for the unburnt and burnt
area was 56.4 and 62.4% respectively. There was an increase in sand fraction of
the burnt area due to high temperature that may lead to breakdown of soil
particles causing the soil to be coarse. Ulery et al.,(1993). The fraction of silt and percentage clay fraction
has the following results 32.10 and 20.91% for silt fraction of the unburnt and
burnt area and 11.5% and 16.7% for clay fraction of the unburnt and burnt area
respectively. There was decrease in silt fraction of the burnt area which was
as a result of high temperature fusing the silt fractions hence its reduction.
Kattering et al.(2000). The increase
in percentage clay of the burnt area shows that the fire severity was high
enough to lead to fusion of clay fraction of the soil. (Imeson et al., 1992; Kattering et al., 2000).
The above results showed that the resultant effect of
fire on soil texture could be due to the irregular pattern of fire severities
which leads to different types of textural classes. The textural class of the
unburnt and burnt area is sandy clay loam according to the textural
classification (Imeson et al., 1992;
Martin and Moody, 2001). Soil coarsening at some parts of the burnt area
occurred which was in accordance with the findings of Mermut et al, (1997) who reported that
selective removal of fine fractions could be caused by environmental action of
rain through erosion. Also, exposure of the soils to high temperature results
in the fusion of clay and silt fraction into sand- size particles (Kattering et al., 2000).
TABLE 2: EFFECT OF BUSH BURNING ON SOILS
SELECTED PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
|
|
TP
(%)
|
BD
(Cm3)
|
HC
(C mhr-1)
|
MC
(%)
|
SAND
(%)
|
CLAY
(%)
|
SILT
(%)
|
TEXTURAL
CLASS
|
|
Unburnt
Area (A)
|
40.37
|
1.53
|
30.21
|
12.0
|
56.4
|
11.5
|
32.1
|
SANDY
CLAY
|
|
Burnt
Area(B)
|
36.23
|
1.60
|
31.42
|
16.0
|
62.4
|
16.7
|
20.91
|
CLAY
LOAM
|
|
F-LSD
P=0.05
|
0.41
|
0.01
|
0.51
|
0.28
|
21.0
|
21.0
|
18.1
|
|
4.3 THE EFFECT OF BUSH BURNING ON SOIL
SELECTED HEAVY METALS
ZINC
The result of the effect of bush burning on zinc
content of soil showed that there was statistical difference when the unburnt
and burnt area was compared with one another. The zinc level in the unburnt and
burnt area of Ali- ogo soil was 0.26 and 0.58Cmol/100g respectively. There was
32% more zinc in the burnt area than the unburnt area. The reason for higher
level of zinc in the burnt area may be as a result of breaking down of soil
solid particles by fire which help to release the zinc content of the soil
because most zinc stays bound to the solid particles (Swif et al., 1993).
Generally, the level of zinc in the burnt and unburnt
areas recorded low to medium classes of zinc sufficiency. This means that response
of zinc application will be high in both unburnt and burnt areas (White, 1987).
BORON
The boron content of the experimental site revealed
that there was statistical difference in the comparison of the unburnt and
burnt areas. Boron level in Ali- ogo Ekoli unburnt and burnt areas was 34.50
and 28.9Cmol/100g soil respectively. There was an increase in Boron level in
the unburnt area and decrease of boron level in the burnt area. The reason of
accumulation of boron in the unburnt area may be because boron is present and
accumulates in organic matter and is freely available to plants in all except
alkaline soils (Reid and Parkinson, 1981). Also, the level of boron in burnt
area decreased as a result of fire severity and volatilization and ash
deposition on the burnt soil will make the soil to be alkaline. The boron
content of the unburnt and burnt area recorded low to medium classes of boron
sufficiency in the soil (Ulery, 1993).
IRON
The effect of burning on iron shows that there was
difference in iron level of the unburnt and burnt areas. The two areas recorded
105.8 and 191.4Cmol/100g respectively. This showed that there was 450% more
iron in unburnt area, the reason of higher iron content of the unburnt area may
be as a result of iron been immobile and its stickiness to soil solid particles
(Webster et al., 1980). The level of
iron in unburnt and burnt area recorded medium classes of iron sufficiency and
reduction in iron content of the burnt area may be due to long duration of fire
that leads to high temperature of the burnt area (Kattering et al., 2000).
MOLYBDENUM
The effect of bush burning on molybdenum shows the
following results 56.90 and 35.90Cmol/100g in unburnt and burnt area
respectively. This result showed that there was 2100% molybdenum in the unburnt
area. This high level of molybdenum in the unburnt area may be due to the fact
that molybdenum does not occur naturally as a free metal in soil, but rather in
various oxidation states in minerals (Reiss et
al., 2000). The level of molybdenum in unburnt and burnt area recorded high
classes of molybdenum excessively and a decrease of molybdenum in burnt area is
as a result of fire severity and high temperature of the burnt soil (Kattering et al, 200S0; Ulery, 1993).
TABLE 3:
EFFECT OF BUSH BURNING ON SOIL SELECTED
HEAVY METALS
|
|
Zn
(Cmol/100g)
|
Bo
(Cmol/100g)
|
Fe
(Cmol/100g)
|
Mo
(Cmol/100g)
|
|
Unburnt
Area (A)
|
0.26
|
34.50
|
105.9
|
56.90
|
|
Burn Area (B)
|
0.58
|
28.90
|
101.4
|
35.90
|
|
F-LSD
P=0.05
|
0.02
|
1.21
|
1.2
|
10.1
|
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 SUMMARY
The properties
of soils at Ali-ogo Ekoli in Ebonyi state south – east Nigeria have undergone
changes due to annual cycles of bush burning. Results from this research work
suggested that soil properties vary in their response to burning in the unburnt
and burnt area. This work tested three things first, the effect of fire on soil
chemical properties showed that pH was favoured by fire in the burnt area but
at unburnt area, it was not favoured. Percentage base saturation, exchangeable cation,
cation exchange capacity, potassium and magnesium were favoured by burning in
the burnt area; total nitrogen, sodium and exchangeable acidity are not
statistically significant in the unburnt and burnt area. The effect of bush
burning on soil selected heavy metals showed that zinc was favoured by fire,
Boron, Iron, and Molybdenum were not favoured by bush burning.
5.2 CONCLUSION
From the results of my study, the following conclusion
could be drawn. Firstly, that burning can significantly alter the chemical
properties like pH, exchangeable cation, exchangeable sodium percentage,
potassium, exchangeable cation exchange capacity and percentage base
saturation. However, it also alter the physical properties of the burnt area
like bulk density, hydraulic conductivity and moisture content but only the
sand and clay of the burnt area was increased due to burning while there
reduction in silt of the burnt area.
5.3 RECOMMENDATION
The use of fire as a management tool in forest
agriculture in Ali-ogo Ekoli in Ebonyi state south – east Nigeria is likely to
continue since it is cheap to implement and reduce their cost of labour.
However, there should be sensitization on the effect of bush burning on forest
soil and environment if not adequately controlled.