| National parks are sources of soil and biodiversity conservation, however, in Nigeria, information on national parks‘ soils as baseline data are grossly lacking. The needs to acquire information on soil status necessitated the use of remote sensing and Geographic Information System for soil survey and vegetation assessment for biodiversity and environmental conservation. Remote Sensing (R.S) and fieldwork were used to carry out soil survey and vegetation assessment of part of Kamuku national park, Birnin-Gwari, in Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria. Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to integrate the data obtained from both Remote Sensing and fieldwork to develop maps. Four soil mapping units KN1, KN2, KN3, and KN4 were established. Morphological results showed that the soils mapping units ranged from moderately shallow (90cm) to very deep (> 165cm). Physical properties revealed that sand fraction (420-700mgkg-1) dominated the particle size fraction followed by silt (120-420 mgkg-1) and clay (80-460 mgkg-1). The dominant textural class in the study area was sandy clay loam. The bulk densities were high in soil units KN1 (1.65Mg/m3) and KN3 (1.59Mg/m3). The bulk densities were moderate both in KN2 (mean 1.49Mg/m3) and KN4 (1.43Mg/m3). The Chemical properties of showed that the soils were slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.2 to 6.8); low to moderate in organic carbon (2.1 to 12g/kg), low in total nitrogen (0.05 to 0.13g/kg) and in exchangeable acidity (0.4 to 1.0cmol/kg). Available phosphorus was rated low to medium (8.6 -18.13g/kg) and cation exchange capacity was rated medium to high (5.7 to 19.6cmol/kg). The soil units KN1, KN2, KN3 and KN4 were classified as Typic Plinthustalf, Eutric Haplustalfs, Typic Plinthustalf and Eutric Haplustepts respectively under USDA soil Taxonomy. These were correlated as Plinthic Lixisols, Rhodic Lixisols, Plinthic Lixisols and Eutric Fluvisol respectively under FAO (WRB).The vegetation analysis of the study area was carried out using Point Centre Quarter Method (PCQM). There were twenty-two (22) species of trees and shrubs. The highest sampled tree was Isoberlinia doka (57 trees) during the survey. The overall estimated population of trees and shrubs in the study area was 102,000 trees and shrubs. The USDA land capability evaluation showed that the study area was capable of sustaining conservation with few limitations. It was recommended that soil survey of the entire national park be undertaken and there was an urgent need for the establishment of soil survey /GIS units in all the existing national parks in the country. |
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