Browsing by Author "Agyeman, Victor Kwame"

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    Some chemical properties of soils in Terminalia Ivorensis A. Chev- Plantations and their Relationship to Die-Back
    (1990) Agyeman, Victor Kwame
    The investigation into the die-back of Terminalia ivorensis A Chev. was based on the hypothesis that nutrient deficiency is the primary cause. The study was conducted in the natural forest and Terminalia ivorensis plantations growing on three major soil groups in the Forest area of Ghana, namely Forest Ochrosols, Ochrosol-Oxysol intergrades and Oxysols. A high correlation between levels of die—back and leaf size was observed. Other quantitative tree parameters (height and girth) were however, not related to die—back. Correlation matrices and equations were developed based on leaf size.. Linear and polynomial relationships between soil and foliar nutrient levels and leaf size were established. Five soil chemical factors were found to influence die-back. These were total nitrogen, organic matter, effective CEC, exchangeable calcium and magnesium. Foliar analysis also revealed that three nutrients namely: nitrogen, calcium and magnesium were related to die-back. However, stepwise regression analysis revealed that only soil and foliar nitrogen and calcium were the most significant nutrients influencing die-back. The resumption of the establishment of Terminalia ivorensis plantations in the country is advocated. This should be done using wider planting distances together with efficient thinning programmes and better maintenance schemes.