The effect of invasive species Lantana Camara L. on soil nutrients at Ol-Donyo Sabuk National Park, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish whether the invasive plant Lantana camara L. alters the soil chemical properties at Ol-Donyo Sabuk National Park. The key objective was to evaluate the soil nutrient composition in areas invaded by L. camara and how these differ from areas without L. camara. Five study sites were selected by purposeful sampling, out of the existing 10 blocks. Soil samples were collected randomly from L. camara invaded areas and similarly from adjacent areas free from L. camara. The soil samples were subjected to determination of the following nutrients and parameters: pH, potassium (K), calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg), total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), total organic carbon (TOC), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and sodium (Na). The data obtained was analysed using Two-way ANOVA test to determine difference in nutrients composition in L. camara invaded and non-invaded areas. Three-way ANOVA test was used to gauge the interactions between wet and dry season, invaded and non-invaded areas and study sites. A post-ANOVA test, Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference was done to separate the means. The results from the study indicated L. camara invaded areas had a significant difference in pH, P, N, Mn, Fe and total organic C compared to the patches that had native plants and not invaded by L. camara. High pH also makes P to be more available to plants that is why P was high in the L. camara invaded areas. This study revealed that L. camara remarkably changes the concentration and balance of soil nutrients resulting to a change in chemistry of soil nutrients. This is in a bid to suit its survival to the detriment of the native plant species. This study is hence vital for designing an effective eradication and preventive strategy of L. camara in Ol-Donyo Sabuk National Park and other protected ecological habitats in Kenya.

Spatial distribution and effects of Lantana camara invasion on soil properties and native vegetation community composition in Tugwi‐Mukosi Recreational Park, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

“…Thomas and Ellison (2000) highlight that native species density decreases with increase in L. camara invasion and this could be attributed to reduced recruitment of native species. Allelopathic effects of L. camara limit recruitment capacity of native plants (Wekhanya et al, 2016). In addition, the invasive plant species increase mortality of native plants and seedlings, reducing their abundance in ecosystems through shading, smothering and nutrient sequestration (Mauchamp, 1997).…”

“…Gooden et al (2009) established that L. camara invasion increases soil nitrates to the detriment of some native species. The invasive species also produces allelochemicals that affect microorganisms necessary for the development of certain seedlings (Wekhanya et al, 2016). Other ecological impacts of L. camara invasion include the elevation of carbon assimilation and increase of fuel load (Fensham et al, 1994).…”

Degradation Status and Local Community Perception towards Kadar-Basaso Wetland in Sinana District of Bale Zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

“…In every case, the history of land management and the specifcity of fertilizer application for the site where the samples are gathered have been noted. Te soil samples were taken from 6 (six) plots by measuring into small blocks of 50 m × 50 m quadrant, one at the center and the other four at the corners of the quadrants of wetland felds of the area at 0-20 cm depth with help of soil augur at an interval of >100 m on two transect line [30].…”

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.: A potential invasive plant in Tunisia

“…By definition, invasive species refers to those organisms that have moved from their native habitat to a new location, where they cause significant harm to the environment, economic systems and/or human health (Richardson et al, 2000, Beck et al, 2008 [19,4] . As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2004) [11] , the impacts caused by the invasion of exotic species are usually immense, insidious and irreversible (Wekhanya, 2016) [23] . Invasive alien plant species are considered to be major drivers of ecological change worldwide with severe negative impacts on nature conservation and ecosystem services fonctionnement (Winter et al, 2009;Richardson, 2010, Vilà et al, 2011; Vilà and Hulme, 2017) [25,18,20,21] .…”