Abstract

This study has been conducted to assess the effects of anthropogenic activities on Nitrogen (N) store changes in soils and plants in the natural forest-savanna of northern Ghana. The study compared the N status of protected forests and adjacent unprotected forests which are prone to human activities (except farming and settlements). Three study zones (Wungu, Serigu and Mognori) were used for the research. A total of 96 composite soil samples (0-50 cm depth), 24 composite samples of above-ground live biomass and 24 composite samples of litter and root biomass were collected and analysed in the laboratory using standard procedures. The results showed that total plant N store i.e., N store in live biomass+litter+roots, was three times higher in the protected site than the unprotected in Wungu and Mognori and twice greater in Serigu. The observed variation between the two forest types was significant (p<0.01 and p<0.05) across the three study zones. Soil nitrogen store was significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05) higher in all the protected sites than the unprotected across the three study zones. In general, soil N store was two times greater in the protected sites than the unprotected across the three study areas. The study demonstrates that proper monitoring and regulation of human activities across the off-reserve forests and existing forest reserves in the savanna ecological zone of northern Ghana is essential for maintaining adequate pools of nitrogen in soils and plants necessary for ensuring sustainable forest productivity and sustaining communities’ livelihoods which are tremendously dependent upon the use of forest resources.

Keywords:

Anthropogenic activities, forest-savanna, nitrogen store,

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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The authors have no competing interests.