VEGETATION ANALYSIS IN THE DEGRADED QUARRY MINE SITES OF ISHIAGU, EBONYI STATE

OKPILIYA; F. I; OKPARA; D. E.; Itu; Prince-Charles O.

Volume : VI, Issue : VII, July - 2017

VEGETATION ANALYSIS IN THE DEGRADED QUARRY MINE SITES OF ISHIAGU, EBONYI STATE

Okpiliya, F. I, Okpara, D. E. , Itu, Prince Charles O.

Abstract :

This study examined the composition of trees and shrubs in the degraded mined sites of Ishiagu in Ebonyi State. Eight quadrats of size 100m x 100m were laid in two locations of both the Crushed Rock and Setraco companies. Four quadrats were in each of the sites. Each of the quadrats was divided into 10 grid cells of dimension 10m x 10m. This yielded a total of 40 grid cells in both the mined and unmined sites. Tree/shrub species composition was then analyzed based on their volume and frequency of occurrence across the 40 cells in both the mined and unmined sites. The result of the analysis revealed that in the Crushed Rock quarry mined site, 18 tree/shrub species from 14 families with a density of 53 bions were recorded. In the Crushed Rock unmined site, 37 tree/shrub species in 21 families with a density of 101 were realized. On the other hand, in Setraco quarry mined site, there were 14 tree/shrub species from seven families and with a density of 35 were recorded. In the unmined site, there were 50 tree/shrub species in 29 families and with a density of 105 were found.