Complete Material Cost #3,000
Order for Complete Material now
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the comparative study of soil nutrient properties of Nypa fruticans and Rhizophora recemosa growth site in Kono Coastline of Khana Local Government Area. The soil samples of Nypa frutican and Rhizophora recemosa was collected randomly using a soil ager at a soil dept of 0 to 15cm. The pH level in the soil samples were analyzed using a potentiometer method. Soil nutrient such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus and magnesium, were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The soil nutrient properties varies, the highest soil nutrient properties was magnesium (23.6mg/kg) in Nypa frutican, while the lowest soil nutrient properties was phosphorus (0.05mg/kg) in Rhizophora recemosa. The pH of Nypa frutican and Rhizophora recemosa were found to be acidic.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Plant nutrition is the study of chemical element and compound necessary for the growth of plant, plant metabolism and their essential.
There are 14 essential plant nutrients, carbon and oxygen are absorbed from the air, while other nutrient including water at typically obtained from the soil (exceptions includes some parasitic or carnivorous plant). Plant must obtain the following mineral nutrients from the growing media.
Primary macro nutrients: Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) potassium (k)
The three secondary macro nutrients: Calcium (Ca), Sulphur (s), Magnesium (Mg).
The micronutrient/trace materials: boron (b), Chlorine (CL), manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Molybdnum (Mo), Nickel (Ni).
The macronutrients are consumed in larger quantity and are present in plant tissue in quantities from 0.2% to 4.0% (on a dry matter weight basis). Micronutrient are present in plant tissue in quantities measured in parts per million, ranging from 5 to 200ppm, or less than 0.02% dry weight (Chapman, 2012).
The roots, especially the root hair, is the most essential organ for the uptake of the nutrients, the structure and architecture of the root can alter the rate of nutrient uptake. Nutrient here are transported to the center of the root, the stele in order for the nutrient to reach the conducting tissue, xylem and phloem (Chapman, 2012). The casparian strip, a cell wall outside the stele but within the root, prevents passive flow of water and nutrients and water (Chapman, 2012).
Xylem moves water and inorganic molecule transportation. Water potential plays a key role in a plant nutrient uptake. If the water potential is more negative within the plant than the surrounding soils, the nutrient will move from the region of higher solute concentration in the soil to the area of lower solute concentration in the plant.
Soil reactivity is expressed in terms of pH and is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. More precisely, it is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration in an aqueous solution or ranges in values from O to 14 (acid to basic). In soils, pH ranges from 3.5 to 9.5, as pH values beyond those extremes are toxic to life forms (sparks, 2003).
In high rainfall areas, soils tend toward acidity as the basic cations are forced off the soil colloids by the attachment to the colloids. High rainfall rates can then wash the nutrients out, leaving the soil sterile. In areas of extreme rainfall and high temperatures, the clay and humus may be washed out, further reducing the buffering capacity of the soil (Brady and Weil, 2002). In low rainfall areas, unleashed calcium pushes pH to 3.5 and reach pH of 10. Beyond pH of a, plant growth is reduced.
Rhizophora racemosa is a mangrove plant belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae. It is regarded as a tree or shrub with stilt roots with Pneumatophores found in West Africa. In Nigeria, Particularly in Rivers State it inhabits the mangrove swamps along the edge of coastal waters and it is an important constituent of mangrove swamp. The Nypa fruticans is one of the major palms found in Rivers State. The Nypa fruticans which is exotic species in the mangroves of South – Southern Nigeria belongs to the family Nypadae and the sub-family Nypah. It has one genus Nypa and one species Nypa fruticans. It has feather palms with horizontal underground branching rhizomes (Ukpong, 2001).
Both Rhizophora recemosa and Nypa fruticans are mangrove plants that are found mostly in mangrove swamps along the edges of the coastal waters. This study is designed to compare the soil pH of the Nypa fruticans and Rhizophora recemosa growth site at Kono coastline in Khana Local Government Area.
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
For many years, Nypa fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa have grown in the same mangrove environment with competition as Nypa frutican tends to replace the existing Rhizophora racemosa. Plant growth and establishment is governed by soil properties especially pH. Therefore, there is a great need to assess the soil at the growth sites of these all important plants with a view of ascertaining how pH contributes to their growth.
1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this study is to carry out a comparative study of soil components of Nypa Fruticans and Rhizophora recemosa in mangrove swamp of Kono waterside in Khana Local Government Area.
The research on comparative study of soil components of Nypa Fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa has the following specific objectives;
- To collect soil samples at Nypa Fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa growth sites.
- To determine the pH and nutrients of soil sample Nypa Fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa.
- To compares the soil components at Nypa Fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa growth sites.
- To make recommendation based on findings.
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of the study include
Considering the contribution of soil component to plant growth and establishment, this study will provide data on how soil component contribute to the growth of Nypa Fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa as well as to determine the difference if any.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study covers soil sampling and pH and other soil nutrients and such as nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium and to determine their effects on the growth of plant such as Nypa Fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa that grows together on the same soil in Kono Coastline.
1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Mangrove: A tree or shrub which grows in tidal, chiefly tropical, coastal swamps, having numerous tangled roots that grow above ground and from dense thickets.
Soil PH: The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the activity of hydronium ions (H+ or, more precisely, H. 30+ aq) in a solution.
Rhizophora racemosa: Rhizophora is a genues of tropical mangrove trees, sometimes collectively called true mangroves. The most notable species is the red mangrove but some other species and a few natural hybrids are known.
Nypa fructicans: Nypa fruticans, commonly known as the nypa palm, is a species of palm native to the coastlines and estuarine habitats of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the only palm considered adapted to the mangrove biome.
Succession: A number of people or things of a similar kind following one after the other.
Salt marsh: An area of coastal grassland that is regularly flooded by seawater.
Acidity and alkalinity: Alkalinity is the name given to the quantitative capacity of an aqueous solution to neutralize an acid. Measuring alkalinity is important in determining a stream’s ability to neutralize acidic pollution from rainfall or wastewater. It is one of the best measures of the sensitivity of the stream to acid inputs.
Swamps: An area of low lying water ground where water collects; a bog or marsh.
Complete Material Cost #3,000
Order for Complete Material now