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Addis Ababa University Libraries Electronic Thesis and Dissertations: AAU-ETD! >
Faculty of Medicine >
Thesis - Anaesthesiology >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/114
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| Title: | REGENERATION OF INDIGENOUS WOODY PLANTS, STATUS OF SOIL FERTILITY AND QUALITY OF COFFEE FOUND IN AN Eucalyptus grandis PLANTATION AND THE ADJECENT NATURAL FOREST IN SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA |
| Authors: | SHIFERAW, ALEM |
| Date Added: | 7-Sep-2007 |
| Abstract: | This study was conducted to assess the diversity of naturally regenerated woody plants, soil
fertility, performance of Coffea arabica and coffee cup quality under Eucalyptus grandis
plantation and the adjacent natural forest in ‘Belete’ forest, Jimma Zone of Oromiya National
Regional state, Ethiopia. Twenty plots with an area of 400 m2 (20m X 20m) were investigated in
each of the plantation and natural forest. In each plot, species name, abundance, diameter and
height were recorded, and soil samples were taken. Besides, coffee beans were collected from
coffee trees growing in the plantation and the natural forest. Numbers of Seedling and soil
samples were collected in five sub-plots (4 m2) within each major plot.
A total of 55 naturally regenerated trees, shrubs, and woody climbers belonging to 36 families
were recorded from both forest categories. There were 47 species in the plantation, and 52
species in the natural forest. The diversity of species was (H’) = 2.19 and (H’) = 2.74 in the
plantation and natural forest, respectively. The understory woody plant density in the plantation
was 2820 stems/ha, while it was 3080 stems/ha in the natural forest. No significant difference
was found in the number of coffee plant stems among the 40 plots. The density of seedlings in
the natural forest and plantation was 1101 stems/ha and 801 stems/ha, respectively. There were
significant differences (P < 0.05) in the mean diameter and total height of coffee plants in the
natural forest and the plantation. The density of coffee plants in the plantation was 1022
stems/ha, while it was 1042 stems/ha in the natural forest.
The coffee quality test (Green quality + Cup quality) result indicated that the green quality (Odor
+ defect) of coffee beans found in the natural forest was 35%, while it was 33% in those collected
in the plantation. The Cup quality (Acidity + Body + Flavor) was 45% in both the natural forest
and plantation. Coffee beans harvested from the natural forest and plantation was assigned in the
category of grade 2 exportable standard coffees.
There was no variation in the level of major soil nutrients, i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
calcium and magnesium in the natural forest and plantation (P < 0.05). However, there were
significant variations between the two forest types in the Na content, clay % and EC.
Generally, the plantation was found favoring the performance of some species (Millitia
ferruginia, Coffea arabica). When it grows with other species, it did not deplete soil nutrients and
had no effect on the cup quality of coffee. Finally, to utilize E. grandis as a shade tree for coffee,
further investigations with regard to moisture competition, root interaction and allelopathic effect
are recommended. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/114 |
| Appears in: | Thesis - Environmental Sciences
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