Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta
We investigated the influence of hydroperiod variation on soil nutrient content in the Okavango Delta seasonal floodplains. Soil samples were collected from eight zones of homogenous vegetation cover after low and high floods and analysed for pH, Na, Mg, Ca, K and P content. A Student's t -...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academy of Science of South Africa
2017-12-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3766 |
| _version_ | 1819139953001496576 |
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| author | Gaolathe Tsheboeng Mphaphi Bonyongo Mike Murray-Hudson |
| author_facet | Gaolathe Tsheboeng Mphaphi Bonyongo Mike Murray-Hudson |
| author_sort | Gaolathe Tsheboeng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We investigated the influence of hydroperiod variation on soil nutrient content in the Okavango Delta seasonal
floodplains. Soil samples were collected from eight zones of homogenous vegetation cover after low and high
floods and analysed for pH, Na, Mg, Ca, K and P content. A Student's
t
-test was used to test for differences
in pH, Na, Mg, Ca, K and P between soils after low and high floods. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to
compare means of flooding duration and depth between low and high floods. Na, K, Mg, P and pH levels in
soils were significantly different (
p
<0.05) after low floods compared with after high floods. Na content was
lower (
p
<0.05) in Zones 2 and 8 and higher (
p
<0.05) in Zones 4, 5 and 6 during high flood than during
low flood. Ca content was lower (
p
<0.05) in Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and higher in Zone 7 (
p
<0.05) under
high flood than during low flood. Mg content was lower (
p
<0.05) in Zones 1 and 5 and higher (
p
<0.05) in
Zones 6, 7 and 8 during high flood than during low flood. K content was lower in Zones 1 and 3 and lower
in Zones 6, 7 and 8 (
p
<0.05) during high flood than during low flood. pH was significantly lower and higher
after a high flood in Zones 1 and 6, respectively, than during low flood. P content was significantly (
p
<0.05)
higher in all zones after high flood than after low flood. Flooding depth and duration increased (
p
<0.05)
in all vegetation zones during high flood. Our results have direct implications for
molapo
(flood recession)
farming. We recommend that farmers plough immediately after the onset of flood recession when the soil is
still moist and rich in nutrients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:30:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4480fb4feab4599b76495d64aef460a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:30:51Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4480fb4feab4599b76495d64aef460a2022-12-21T18:27:38ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892017-12-011103/41510.1590/sajs.2014/201301683766Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango DeltaGaolathe Tsheboeng0Mphaphi Bonyongo1Mike Murray-Hudson2Okavango Research Institute, Maun, BotswanaOkavango Research Institute, Maun, BotswanaOkavango Research Institute, Maun, BotswanaWe investigated the influence of hydroperiod variation on soil nutrient content in the Okavango Delta seasonal floodplains. Soil samples were collected from eight zones of homogenous vegetation cover after low and high floods and analysed for pH, Na, Mg, Ca, K and P content. A Student's t -test was used to test for differences in pH, Na, Mg, Ca, K and P between soils after low and high floods. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare means of flooding duration and depth between low and high floods. Na, K, Mg, P and pH levels in soils were significantly different ( p <0.05) after low floods compared with after high floods. Na content was lower ( p <0.05) in Zones 2 and 8 and higher ( p <0.05) in Zones 4, 5 and 6 during high flood than during low flood. Ca content was lower ( p <0.05) in Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and higher in Zone 7 ( p <0.05) under high flood than during low flood. Mg content was lower ( p <0.05) in Zones 1 and 5 and higher ( p <0.05) in Zones 6, 7 and 8 during high flood than during low flood. K content was lower in Zones 1 and 3 and lower in Zones 6, 7 and 8 ( p <0.05) during high flood than during low flood. pH was significantly lower and higher after a high flood in Zones 1 and 6, respectively, than during low flood. P content was significantly ( p <0.05) higher in all zones after high flood than after low flood. Flooding depth and duration increased ( p <0.05) in all vegetation zones during high flood. Our results have direct implications for molapo (flood recession) farming. We recommend that farmers plough immediately after the onset of flood recession when the soil is still moist and rich in nutrients.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3766floodcommunitiessoilvegetationzones |
| spellingShingle | Gaolathe Tsheboeng Mphaphi Bonyongo Mike Murray-Hudson Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta South African Journal of Science flood communities soil vegetation zones |
| title | Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta |
| title_full | Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta |
| title_fullStr | Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta |
| title_short | Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta |
| title_sort | flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the okavango delta |
| topic | flood communities soil vegetation zones |
| url | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3766 |
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