Impact of Bush Fire and Grazing on the Diversity of Herbaceous Plants in the Savannah’s Zones of the Ndikinimeki District Central Cameroon
Mireil Carole Votio Tchoupou *
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Armel Leukefack
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Amandine Flore Yonkeu Ntonmen
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Paule Mariette Kenmougne
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Hubert Kpoumie Mounmemi
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Marlene Tounkam Ngansop
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Damien Essono
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Louis-Paul Roger Banoho Kabelong
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Cedric Djomo Chimi
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon and Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) – National of Herbarium of Cameroon.
Nadege Tagnang Madountsap
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Dongmo Donatien Zebaze
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Nicole Liliane Maffo Maffo
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
Ingrid Tetchieu Gaintse
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Standly Nkengbeza Nkemnyi
Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) – National of Herbarium of Cameroon.
Louis Zapfack
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The savannah’s zones of the Ndikinimeki District, Central Region of Cameroon are subject to very strong anthropic pressures due to slash-and-burn agriculture, bush fires, grazing, population growth, and firewood collection. In Cameroon, few studies have assessed the impact of bush fire and grazing on the herbaceous stratum. The inventory and carbon stock of herbaceous plants were carried out in 126 sub-plots of 1 m x 1 m (1m2) i.e three (03) repetitions along the diagonal of the 20 m x 50 m plots. However, these degrading factors were identified by field observations of bush fire signs and the presence of cattle faeces. During this work, three facies were identified by field observations (burning savannah, grazing savannah and undegraded savannah) and 3075 individuals plants species divided into 28 families, 77 genera and 88 species were recorded. The results obtained showed that the variation in physiognomy and floristic diversity is a function of the degrading factor (bush fire and grazing). However, grazing increases species richness, reduces species cover and biomass. On the other hand, bush fire reduces species cover and carbon stock. This study was carried out partly during drought period (august) and cannot, therefore, be generalized to bush fire. At the end, this study demonstrated that vegetation fragmentation is due to anthropogenic factors such as bush fire and grazing.
Keywords: Savannah, degrading factor, herbaceous plants, ndikinimeki, floristic diversity, vegetation fragmentation.