Nutrient cycles and successional changes following shifting cultivation practice in moist semi-deciduous forests in Nigeria

The nutrient contents of moist semi-deciduous forest, successional regrowth and cultivated soils were studied along with successional changes following clear-cutting and burning. Water-soluble N, P, Ca, Mg and K were measured in the primary forest, successional regrowth, cultivated soils and soils of secondary forests ranging from 1 to 6 years after cessation of cultivation. Clearing and burning of the forest releases stored essential nutrients to soils under cultivation. K and N seem to be lost more rapidly in soils under cultivation than in soils under successional regrowth.It was observed that under shifting cultivation essential nutrients build up temporarily; P and Ca rapidly build up in cultivated soils to values much higher than their original values in the forest soils. Six years after the cessation of cultivation, the soil nutrient level of the successional regrowth was still far from being restored to the level of the primary forest soils.Seedlings and resprouts were equally important in the vegetation recovery of burnt and unburnt clear-cut forest. Seedlings of pioneer woody species established themselves in the burnt and unburnt plots within 4 months. Secondary regrowth in the burnt plot appeared better than in the unburnt plot, although resprouts played a more significant role in the unburnt plot.