Influence of Anogissus Leiocarpus and Cropteryx Febrifuga on Soil Properties in Noth-East Nigeria

The effect of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Crossopteryx febrifuga tree canopy cover on soil properties was studied over wet and dry season and the average were taken in savanna of north-west Nigeria. some chemical parameters for foliar, soil under the tree canopy and away from canopy were analyzed, The objective was to find out whether tree canopies change the nutrient status of the soil under them relative to adjacent grasslands foliar nutrients was found to be higher significantly then soil under and away from canopy, Soils under tree canopies were found to have significantly higher levels of organic matter, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, potassium zinc, and moisture content, than those in open grasslands while lead and cadmium show no difference and pH is lower under the tree than those in open grasslands. The foliar content is much higher than both under and away from the tree, The results of this study indicate that tree is Nigerian savanna guinea savanna have a beneficial effect on soil nutrient status. The common practice of clearing all woody trees in order to establish farms and improve rangeland should be discourages. Therefore trees must be taken into consideration in managing guinea savanna as rangeland.