IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ibn/esrjnl/v8y2019i1p27.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Human Generated Fires on Soil Organic Carbon Stocks under Different Vegetation Types in Northern Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Emmanuel Nyadzi
  • Benjamin K. Nyarko
  • Mathew I. S Ezenwa

Abstract

This study examined the effect of fires on the distribution of SOCS under different vegetation types. Soil samples were randomly collected on 34 plots and 24 sample points at depths 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm per plot in Northern Region of Ghana. Experimentally, 50m x 50m plots were marked out on burnt and unburnt lands under four different vegetation types. % C and bulk density were estimated using Walkley Black and core methods respectively. Results show that SOCS insignificantly (P>0.05) varied under the vegetation types with close savanna woodland (CSW) recording the highest of ~16.7t/ha on unburnt sites and ~19.4 t/ha on burnt sites while Grass/herbs with scattered trees and shrubs (GHST) recoded ~7.9 t/ha and ~9.4 t/ha on unburnt and burnt sites, respectively. The difference in % C and bulk density across depth were statistically significant (P<0.05). A strong negative correlation existed between bulk density & %C and bulk density & SOCS. We conclude that contrary to previous studies fire significantly (P<0.05) increased SOCS on fallow lands depending on fire temperature. However, vegetation types in the savannah of Ghana were observed to have an insignificant impact on the quantity of SOCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuel Nyadzi & Benjamin K. Nyarko & Mathew I. S Ezenwa, 2019. "Effects of Human Generated Fires on Soil Organic Carbon Stocks under Different Vegetation Types in Northern Ghana," Earth Science Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(1), pages 1-27, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:esrjnl:v:8:y:2019:i:1:p:27
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/esr/article/download/0/0/38463/39044
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/esr/article/view/0/38463
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nyadzi, Emmanuel, 2016. "Climate Variability Since 1970 and Farmers’ Observations in Northern Ghana," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 5(2).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Muli, Celestine & Gerber, Nicolas & Sakketa, Tekalign Gutu & Mirzabaev, Alisher, 2018. "Ecosystem tipping points due to variable water availability and cascading effects on food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa," Working Papers 278230, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    2. Madhuri & Upasna Sharma, 2020. "How do farmers perceive climate change? A systematic review," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 991-1010, October.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ibn:esrjnl:v:8:y:2019:i:1:p:27. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Canadian Center of Science and Education (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cepflch.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.