Effect of Soil Properties on Tree Distribution across an Agricultural Landscape on a Tropical Mountain, Tanzania

Abstract

Distribution of tree species can result in many factors including environmental variables, biotic interaction and management. Better understanding of these interacting factors is crucial in planning management interventions especially in managed landscapes: this study on the effect of soil properties on tree species distribution in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania will aid in this. Standard tree inventory procedures and soil sampling techniques were used to survey 48 plots from altitudinal level of 680 to 1690 m a.s.l. along 25 km long transect. All trees ≥ 5 cm at DBH were recorded, while soils were sampled from top and subsoils (0 - 20 and 21 - 50 cm depths). Tree species distribution index was assessed through abundance and frequency, while species interaction with environmental variables was assessed using Detrended Correspondence Analysis. Distribution index indicated that 77% of tree species were categorized as rare, while 10% and 13% were categorized as occasional and abundant