Secondary succession in abandoned fields of dry tropical Northern Cameroon

This study evaluates the processes of recolonization of abandoned fields by native vegetation under conditions of intensive human activity (fire, intensive grazing, firewood cutting) in a semi-arid tropical region savanna of northern Cameroon. Secondary plant succession was studied in two series of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of vegetation science 1995-09, Vol.6 (4), p.499-508
Main Authors: Donfack, P. (Institut de la Recherche Agronomique, Maroua (Cameroon)), Floret, C, Pontanier, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABANDONED LAND
Africa
BARBECHO
CAMEROON
CAMEROUN
CAMERUN
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
FALLOW
Fallowing
Florets
Hutchinson et al. (1954-1972)
JACHERE
LAND USE
Plant succession
Plants
SABANAS
Sand soils
SAVANE
Savanna
Savanna soils
SAVANNAS
Semi-arid tropical
SEMIARID ZONES
Species
SUCCESSION ECOLOGIQUE
SUCESION ECOLOGICA
TERRE ABANDONNEE
TIERRAS ABANDONADAS
TROPICAL ZONES
UTILISATION DES TERRES
UTILIZACION DE LA TIERRA
Vegetation
Vertisols
Woody plants
ZONA SEMIARIDA
ZONA TROPICAL
ZONE SEMI ARIDE
ZONE TROPICALE
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Summary:This study evaluates the processes of recolonization of abandoned fields by native vegetation under conditions of intensive human activity (fire, intensive grazing, firewood cutting) in a semi-arid tropical region savanna of northern Cameroon. Secondary plant succession was studied in two series of formerly cultivated fields 1-35 yr after the beginning of the fallow period. Floristic changes and the dynamics of woody plant populations were compared between areas with vertisols (clay texture) and sandy soils, as a function of length of fallows. Vegetation changed continuously during the 35 years following field abandonment. However, a very abrupt break occurred between 6 and 10 yr, due to increasingly intense human pressure during this period. Up to that point, ecological models and mechanisms of succession presented in the literature are more or less confirmed by our results. Usually, secondary succession is blocked at a stage of wooded grassland as a result of human activities.
ISSN:1100-9233
1654-1103
DOI:10.2307/3236348