The influence of soil properties on grass and Kob abundance in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

The dependence of livestock on grasses as food for sustainability has been established. However, there is limited information on the variation in soil properties on grass and animal abundance at the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP). Therefore, the impact of soil properties on grassland and Kob were assessed at the Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria, using an established transect [Gilbert Child (GC), Shehu Shagari (SS), Mamudu Lapai (ML), Hussain Mashi (HM) and Mara Staude (MS)]. The results indicated that variations in soil physical properties were not significantly different. However, Mamodu Lapai (ML) soil had 16.06% higher clay content compared to Hussain Mashi (HM) soils and Mara Staude (MS), and 9.61% compared to Gilbert Child (GC) and Shehu Shagari (SS) soils. Gilbert Child soil had significantly higher soil pH than ML and MS soils. Total organic carbon and total N were lowest in GC, but higher in Na contents. Grass coverage was significantly higher in GC than in MS, while SS, ML, HM, and MS had 9.67, 25.92, 12.96, and 41.97% lower grass coverage, respectively. The cluster size of Kob and the number of Kob sited were significantly higher in GC than in MS, ML, and HM. Grass abundance and Kob activity were higher under sandy soil with high soil pH and Na content but low in TOC and TN. Maintaining grass cover and animal stock at the KLNP requires a proper grazing management strategy that ensures continual maintenance of soil quality for sustainability.