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Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe

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Abstract

We tested whether cultivation and fallowing have any significant effect on tree species diversity and dominance in semi-arid Zimbabwe. To this end, we quantified tree species diversity and physiognomy on two soil types (mutapo and bandati) stratified into three land-use categories, i.e., cultivated land, fallow land and woodland. Results showed that tree species diversity was significantly different on the two soil types. Tree species diversity was high on bandati soil and low on mutapo soil. Results also showed that there was significant difference in tree species diversity among the three land-use categories on mutapo soil but no differences on bandati soil. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in species diversity between paired categories on mutapo soil but no significant differences on bandati soil. Tree physiognomy was significantly different among all three land use categories. Colophospermum mopane and Diospyros kirkii were the dominant species within woodlands, while Acacia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa replaced them as the dominant species within the fallow land category. These results indicate that woodland conversion for cultivation purposes has no immediate significant effect on tree species diversity on bandati soil, while it has a pronounced effect on mutapo soil, at least in the short term.

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Acknowledgements

This study would not have been possible without efforts from colleagues from the Department of Biological Sciences, Tropical Resource Ecology Program, and the Department of Geography and Environmental Science University of Zimbabwe. We thank the Ministère Français des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes for supporting (Edwin Tambara) through the French Embassy in Zimbabwe (Research Platform-Production and Conservation in Partnership, RP-PCP grant/CC#4). Mbire Rural District Council allowed the work to be carried out in the area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Edwin Tambara

  2. Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Amon Murwira

  3. Tropical Resource Ecology Program (TREP), University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Shakie Kativu

  4. Centre for International Research and Development (CIRAD)/Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Pretoria, Geography building 2.1.1, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Emmanuel Torquebiau

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  1. Edwin Tambara
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  4. Emmanuel Torquebiau
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Correspondence to Edwin Tambara.

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Tambara, E., Murwira, A., Kativu, S. et al. Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe. Agroforest Syst 84, 299–309 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9467-3

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