Articles

This study aimed to assess the floristic composition, vegetation structure and species associations of Cashew agro-ecosystems in the North region of Cameroon. The data were collected in 100 m x 20 m transect methods. An analysis of the data collected in the field was conducted around the diversity and richness of the flora, but also the structure of Cashew agro-ecosystems. For the analyzes of vegetation structure, tree density, basal area and biovolume were calculated. The inventory included trees with a dbh greater than or equal to 5 cm on an area of ​​1 ha per plot. The experimental device installed is a complete random Fisher block with five repetitions. A total of 7849 individuals in 17 families, 20 genera and 38 species were recorded<i>. </i>Species Important value of vegetation cover indicated that <i>Diospyros </i><i>mespiliformis</i><i>, </i><i>Anogeissus</i><i> </i><i>leiocarpus</i><i>, Annona senegalensis and Terminalia </i><i>laxiflora</i> are the most represented. Combretaceae are the most ecologically important families. Additionally, the grouping of species into four subdivisions showed that the Shannon diversity index varies from 2.18 ± 0.09 - 3.47 ± 0.17 bits, Pielou index vary from 0.98 ± 0.01 - 0.99 ± 0.01, Simpson's index ranges from 0.70 ± 0.18 - 0.93 ± 0.11, density ranges from 102 ± 1.92 - 128 ± 6.36 indiv/ha, basal area ranges from 2.02 ± 0.31 - 12.68 ± 2.01 m²/ha, biovolume ranges from 11.58 ± 1.29 - 68.03 ± 13.21 m<SUP>3</SUP>/ha. The Sörensen similarity index is very high with floristic affinities greater than or equal to 90%. The diameters and heights structure show a predominance of young individuals for the diameter and height classes on all plots. The most represented species associations are legumes (<i>Arachis </i><i>hypogeae</i>: 40.54%) and native fruit trees (<i>Vitellaria </i><i>paradoxa</i>: 15%). These results show the contribution of Cashew agro-ecosystems in biodiversity conservation.