Co esponding au ho : Adechina Olayossimi
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion License 4.0.
Bioindica o plan s o soil quali y in an ag o-ecological zone in Ahoué (Sou he n I o y
Coas ): Applica ion o peanu cul i a ion
Adechina Olayossimi 1, *, Oua a a Amidou 1, Hien Vic o ine 1, Oua a a Ka amoko 2 and Yao-Kouamé Albe 3
1 Depa men o Ag icul u e and New Technologies, UFR Ag icul u e, Fishe ies Resou ces and Ag o-Indus y, Uni e si y o
San Ped o, San Ped o, Cô e d’I oi e.
2 Depa men o Ag o-Indus ial Sciences and Technologies, UFR Ag icul u e, Fishe ies Resou ces and Ag o-Indus y,
Uni e si y o San Ped o, San Ped o, Cô e d’I oi e.
3 Depa men o Soil Sciences, UFR Ea h Sciences and Mining Resou ces, Felix Houphouë -Boigny Uni e si y, Abidjan, Cô e
d’I oi e.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(02), 997-1006
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 06 July 2025; e ised on 12 Augus 2025; accep ed on 15 Augus 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wja .2025.27.2.2939
Abs ac
In a con ex o soil deg ada ion, his s udy examines he ela ionship be ween lo is ic composi ion and soil p ope ies
in he ag o-ecological zone o Ahoué, sou he n Cô e d'I oi e, using a me hodological app oach combining he Indica o
Value Index (IndVal), mul i a ia e analysis (hea map and hie a chical clus e ing) and en i onmen al g adien mapping.
The main objec i e is o iden i y and cha ac e ize bioindica o plan species o soil quali y in his a ea. Ou esul s
highligh signi ican and obus co ela ions be ween some species and speci ic edaphic condi ions. Mallo us
opposi i olius and Cen osema pubescens we e ound o be s ongly associa ed wi h soils cha ac e ized by high o ganic
ma e (OM) and high ca ion exchange capaci y (CEC), sugges ing a o able e ili y condi ions. Con e sely, Xylopia
ae hiopica and Us e ia guineensis we e iden i ied as indica o s o acidic and po en ially deg aded soils, wi h low CEC
and lowe nu ien e en ion, which could nega i ely impac he g ow h o sensi i e c ops. Mul i a ia e analysis
con i med he high spa ial a iabili y o edaphic pa ame e s along he opog aphic g adien , highligh ing he
he e ogenei y o c op g ow h condi ions wi hin he s udy a ea. These esul s highligh he impo ance o plan
bioindica o s o cha ac e izing soils and an icipa ing hei e olu ion unde he e ec o pedogene ic p ocesses and
an h opogenic dis u bances. The in eg a ion o spa ial models and species unc ional di e si y would help e ine
ecological diagnoses and op imize soil conse a ion and sus ainable managemen s a egies.
Keywo ds: Bioindica o Plan s; Indica o Value Index; Soil Quali y; Sus ainable Soil Managemen ; O ganic Ma e ; Cô e
d'I oi e
1. In oduc ion
Peanu (A achis hypogaea) cul i a ion is o s a egic impo ance o ag icul u al sys ems in many egions, pa icula ly
in Wes A ica. Soil quali y, which di ec ly in luences c op p oduc i i y and sus ainabili y, is a c ucial ac o o a m
success. T adi ionally, s akeholde s in he ag icul u al sec o ( a me s, ag onomis s, soil enginee s) assess soil quali y
based on c i e ia such as ex u e, dep h, colo , o coa se elemen con en , which, howe e , only p o ide an app oxima e
assessmen o ac ual soil condi ions ([1]; [2]; [3]). Soil analyses, which a e mo e p ecise, a e o en expensi e, limi ing
hei access o a me s, pa icula ly in u al a eas o A ica [4].
Faced wi h his p oblem, he use o lo is ic bioindica o s appea s o be a ele an al e na i e o assessing soil quali y
quickly and economically [5]. Indeed, he local lo a, h ough i s di e si y and dynamics, di ec ly e lec s he soil and
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(02), 997-1006
998
ecological condi ions o he en i onmen . Ce ain plan species, sensi i e o a ia ions in soil p ope ies, can hus se e
as eliable indica o s o i s quali y ([6]; [7]). In A ica, his app oach is widely used by u al communi ies, who ha e
lea ned o iden i y soil bioindica o plan s o adap hei ag icul u al p ac ices ([8]; [9]; [10]).
In his con ex , his s udy p oposes o iden i y and analyze bioindica o plan s in he ag o-ecological zone o Ahoué, in
sou he n Cô e d'I oi e, wi h a pa icula ocus on hei applica ion in peanu cul i a ion. The local lo a, pa icula ly
plan s conside ed weeds, could o e aluable clues on soil cha ac e is ics, in luencing peanu g ow h and heal h. By
iden i ying hese species and linking hem o soil p ope ies, he objec i e is o p o ide a me s wi h p ac ical and
accessible ools o assess he quali y o hei soils, wi hou ha ing o eso o cos ly analyses.
This wo k is based on quan i a i e da a on plan species abundance, allowing he s udy o he ela ionships be ween
ege a ion and soils in his egion. The esul s could open new pe spec i es o sus ainable soil managemen in
ag icul u e, pa icula ly o sensi i e c ops such as peanu s. By acili a ing he apid assessmen o soil quali y, his s udy
could con ibu e o imp o ing a m p oduc i i y, while educing he cos s associa ed wi h soil analysis, pa icula ly in
egions whe e esou ces a e limi ed [11].
2. Ma e ials and me hods
2.1. S udy Si e Loca ion
The s udy si e is loca ed in he illage o Ahoué (be ween 5°26' and 5°29' No h la i ude, and 3°50' and 3°56' Wes
longi ude). I co e s an a ea o 1.3 hec a es, loca ed along he oad linking Abidjan o Alépé, no h o he au onomous
dis ic o Abidjan, in sou he n Cô e d'I oi e. A e age mon hly empe a u es ange be ween 25 and 30°C, accompanied
by high humidi y (80 o 90%). Annual p ecipi a ion exceeds 1200 mm [12]. The si e's ege a ion consis s o
psammophilous o es s, cha ac e ized by highly desa u a ed soils wi h low wa e e en ion capaci y and low clay
con en . These soils ha e a hick clayey ho izon, ma ked by spo s which e lec d ainage which is o en poo o
some imes impe ec in dep h [13].
2.2. S udy o lo is ic composi ion h ough oposequences and soil pi s
To analyze he lo is ic composi ion o he s udy a ea, h ee oposequences we e es ablished, each comp ising h ee soil
pi s (A, B, and C) loca ed along each ansec (Figu e 1). The pi s, spaced a leas 200 m apa , ha e a maximum dep h o
1.2 m, excep in a eas wi h na u al cons ain s. Each soil p o ile was classi ied acco ding o i s opog aphic posi ion as
uppe slope (HS), mid-slope (MS), and lowe slope (LS), in acco dance wi h he Yao-Kouamé model [14].
Figu e 1 S uc u e o he oposequences p oduced in he landscape o he si e s udied
This app oach allows cap u ing ag o-pedological and plan a ia ions acco ding o opog aphic g adien s (1 m² plo s
o pe ennial he baceous plan s and 5 m² plo s o woody species), in acco dance wi h he me hod desc ibed by Dibong
and Ndjouondo [15]. This me hod allows o an accu a e assessmen o species dominance and dis ibu ion, while
p o iding a sui able amewo k o compa ison be ween di e en opog aphic p o iles.
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2.3. Soil quali y le els and hei assessmen using he FAO-based app oach
Soil quali y assessmen is based on he FAO classi ica ion [16], which conside s soil as a physical esou ce in eg a ed
in o ag icul u al p oduc ion sys ems. This app oach akes in o accoun a ious ac o s, including ag onomic po en ial,
economic cons ain s, and he inpu s equi ed o p oduc ion. Each soil uni is hus ca ego ized acco ding o i s
sui abili y o a speci ic use, dis inguishing wo main le els: S (sui able) and N (unsui able).
Soil sui abili y o peanu cul i a ion is classi ied in o i e ca ego ies based on economic and ag onomic c i e ia
• S1 ( e y sui able): Highly p oduc i e soils, wi h op imal condi ions o peanu cul i a ion. These soils allow
economically p o i able p oduc ion wi hou equi ing signi ican imp o emen s.
• S2 (mode a ely sui able): Soils sui able o peanu cul i a ion bu wi h ce ain limi a ions ha educe po en ial
yield. The ope a ion emains economically iable, al hough adjus men s may be equi ed.
• S3 (ma ginally sui able): Soils wi h signi ican cons ain s limi ing p oduc i i y. Ag icul u al use is possible bu
a a signi ican ly lowe yield, equi ing inc eased in es men o main ain p o i abili y.
• N1 (no sui able o economic easons, bu ma ginally sui able): Soils whe e he p o i abili y o peanu
cul i a ion is comp omised by excessi ely high p oduc ion cos s (e.g., high inpu o labo equi emen s).
Howe e , hese soils could be exploi ed unde ce ain condi ions wi h app op ia e cul u al p ac ices.
• N2 (unsui able o physical easons): Soils wi h i e e sible cons ain s ha make cul i a ion impossible in he
con ex o he in ended use. This ca ego y includes soils wi h e y shallow dep hs (< 20 cm), poo d ainage, o
exposu e o ecu ing looding isks.
The pa ame e s conside ed include soil pH, dep h, wa e e en ion capaci y, and d ainage. Soils bes sui ed o peanu
cul i a ion a e cha ac e ized by su icien dep h and a pH be ween 6 and 7.5. Con e sely, soil uni s p one o
wa e logging, wi h a hin laye (< 20 cm), o poo d ainage a e classi ied as unsui able o cul i a ion (N2).
This assessmen amewo k p o ides a baseline o planning ag icul u al uses and implemen ing land managemen
s a egies aimed a op imizing p oduc i i y while minimizing economic and en i onmen al cons ain s (Table I).
Table 1 Soil quali y assessmen g id acco ding o pedological ac o s
Soil Sui abili y Class
Ve y i : S1
Mode a ely i : S2
Li le i : S3
Un i : N
E ec i e Dep h (cm)
> 100
60 - 100
30 - 60
< 30
In e nal D ainage Class
4
3 e 5
2 e 6
0 e 1
Acidi y (pH)
6 – 7.5
5.5 - 6
7.5 -7.8
5 – 5.5
7.8 - 8
< 4.5
> 8
To al Exchangeable Bases
> 10
5 - 10
2 - 5
< 2
Consis ency
So
F iable
Ha d
Ve y Ha d
G a el Load (p.c.)
< 10
10 - 30
30 - 50
> 50
Soil Quali y Class
High
middle
Poo
Low
Adap ed om FAO [16] in h p://p-case.ia a. i.cn .i /ap3a/
2.4. Iden i ica ion o bioindica o species o edaphic and ag onomic condi ions
2.4.1. IndVal calcula ion me hodology
The IndVal index is ob ained using he mul ipa () algo i hm om he indicspecies package in R ([17]; [18]). This
app oach allows indica o species o be iden i ied based on hei equency o occu ence wi hin he di e en g oups
s udied. The s a is ical signi icance o species-g oup associa ions is assessed using a pe mu a ion es (how(npe m =
1999)) o ob ain obus p- alues [19]. A species is conside ed a signi ican indica o when i has a high IndVal and a p-
alue < 0.05 a e pe mu a ion.
2.4.2. Iden i ica ion o Bioindica o Species and Ecological In e p e a ion
Species wi h a signi ican IndVal we e selec ed as bioindica o s because hey e lec ag oecological condi ions and he
dynamics o soil managemen p ac ices. The esul s we e isualized using ba plo s, whe e each species is ep esen ed
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(02), 997-1006
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by i s IndVal and s a is ical signi icance. This ep esen a ion acili a es he in e p e a ion o ecological ends and
species-soil associa ions.
In addi ion o he s a is ical analysis, a li e a u e e iew was conduc ed o con ex ualize he esul s by in eg a ing he
ecological equi emen s o he iden i ied species and hei ole in he s udied ecosys ems ([19]; [20]).
2.5. Mul i a ia e Analysis o Soil P ope ies Using Hea maps and Hie a chical Clus e ing
The analysis o soil p ope ies is based on a da ase comp ising measu emen s om se e al loca ions, cha ac e ized by
physicochemical pa ame e s such as pH, ca ion exchange capaci y (CEC), o ganic ma e (OM), and a ailable
phospho us (P₂O₅) le els. To op imally exploi his in o ma ion, he da a a e ans o med in o a nume ical ma ix,
excluding he Loca ion column, which se es as an iden i ie , hus ocusing he analysis on he ela ionships be ween
quan i a i e a iables [21]. A cus om colo pale e is applied o imp o e he eadabili y o he alues: a g adien om
whi e (low alues) o ed (high alues) is used o enhance he isual in e p e a ion o he obse ed a ia ions; which
acili a es he de ec ion o unde lying pa e ns and highligh s soil quali y g adien s [22].
To iden i y s uc u al ela ionships be ween opog aphical posi ions and hei physicochemical p ope ies, a
co ela ion-based dis ance measu e (co .dis ) is used o op imize he assessmen o simila i ies and dissimila i ies
be ween s udy si es [23].
The hie a chical clus e ing algo i hm (hclus ) is hen used o g oup locali ies and a iables based on hei s a is ical
p oximi ies. This me hod isualizes he da a s uc u e in he o m o dend og ams, acili a ing he iden i ica ion o
na u al clus e s [24].
To enhance he in e p e a ion o he esul s, colo ed anno a ions a e added o he ows and columns o he hea map o
indica e he g oups de ined du ing he hie a chical clus e ing [25]. This app oach acili a es he de ec ion o
associa ions be ween locali ies and soil p ope ies based on e ili y classes and in e ac ions be ween a iables.
Finally, he las hea map simul aneously in eg a es hie a chical clus e s and g oup anno a ions o p o ide a syn he ic
iew o he iden i ied en i onmen al ends. This me hod is pa icula ly e ec i e in e ealing complex ela ionships and
hidden pa e ns in mul i a ia e da a, a key issue in en i onmen al and ag oecological s udies [26]. All analyses a e
ca ied ou using he phea map package, which allows join clus e ing o ows (si es) and columns ( a iables) o
op imal eading o he ela ionships be ween he di e en dimensions o he da ase .
3. Resul s
3.1. S udy o lo is ic composi ion h ough oposequences and soil pi s
A o al o 22 dominan species we e selec ed based on su eys conduc ed in he h ee oposequences s udied. All
abundan plan species we e iden i ied in he ield.
3.2. Uni ac o ial analysis o co ela ions be ween bioindica o species and soil quali y acco ding o he
Indica o Value Index (IndVal)
The co ela ion be ween indica o s and soil quali y is demons a ed by he abili y o ce ain species o dis inc ly
cha ac e ize soil condi ions, acco ding o hei sui abili y le el and he s a is ical signi icance o hei IndVal. A summa y
analysis is illus a ed in Table II.
3.2.1. Species s ongly associa ed wi h high-quali y o high-sui abili y soils
The analysis o Table II indica es ha he species Mallo us opposi i olius and Cen osema pubescens ha e high IndVals
(1.00 and 0.95, espec i ely) and e y low p- alues (0.001 and 0.005). These species exhibi cha ac e is ics a o able
o soil e ili y. In con as , species such as Ch omolaena odo a a (IndVal = 0.88, p = 0.043), Cec opia pel a a (IndVal =
0.87, p = 0.029), and Fun umia a icana (IndVal = 0.86, p = 0.036) a e ound in g oups co esponding o in e media e
(o ansi ional) sui abili y soils, e lec ing en i onmen s whe e soil deg ada ion o imp o emen p ocesses a e in
balance. They a e indica o s o mode a ely e ile soils, sugges ing an e icien nu ien ecycling capaci y. These esul s
sugges ha hese species a e good bioindica o s o a o able soils (o en cha ac e ized by be e s uc u e, adequa e
e ili y o op imized managemen p ac ices) because hei p esence is s ongly co ela ed wi h op imal soil condi ions.
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3.2.2. Species indica ing low sui abili y o deg aded soil quali y
The species wi h high IndVal and signi ican p- alues in his g oup a e Xylopia ae hiopica (IndVal = 1.00, p = 0.001) and
Us e ia guineensis (IndVal = 0.94, p = 0.005). Thei p esence is co ela ed wi h soils wi h low nu ien e en ion
capaci y, o en associa ed wi h e osion p ocesses and low o ganic ma e . The species Oplismenus hi ellus (IndVal =
0.87, p = 0.050) is also signi ican o hese poo soils, sugges ing adap a ion o low e ili y condi ions. These esul s
indica e ha he p esence o hese species sugges s un a o able soil condi ions.
3.2.3. Non-signi ican species
Newbouldia lae is (IndVal = 0.84, p = 0.097) is known o occu on poo soils, bu i s s a is ical alues sugges ha i is
no an exclusi e bioindica o o soil deg ada ion. Fo many o he species, ela i ely high p- alues (p > 0.05) indica e
ha hei IndVal does no eliably dis inguish soil quali y. Thei p esence is less co ela ed wi h speci ic e ili y
g adien s, sugges ing ha hey a e no good bioindica o s o soil quali y, e en hough hey may be ecologically impo an
in o he con ex s.
Table 2 Soil e ili y indica o s acco ding o he Indica o Value Index (IndVal) and hei s a is ical signi icance [F:
equencies o occu ence; A: ela i e abundances, P- alue = P obabili y, Signi icance codes: 0 `***' 0.001 `**' 0.01 `*' 0.05
`.' 0.1 `ns ' 1
Soil e ili y g oup
F
A
Indica o species
IndVal
p- alue
High, i + poo , i + a e age, i
100
29
Ch omolaena odo a a
0.88
0.043*
35
0.1
Cec opia pel a a
0.87
0.029*
33
0.1
Fun umia a icana
0.86
0.036*
High, un i + low, un i + medium, un i
33.3
0.1
Us e ia guineensis
0.94
0.005**
Weak, un i + poo , un i + a e age, un i
33
20
Oplismenus hi ellus
0.87
0.050*
High, i + low, i + poo , i + a e age, i
100
7
Mallo us opposi i olius
1.00
0.001***
Cen osema pubescens
0.95
0.005**
High, un i + low, un i + poo , un i + a e age, un i
33
0.2
Xylopia ae hiopica
1.00
0.001***
O he indica o species
33
0.7
Amphimas p e oca poides
0.84
0.093.
100
7
Aspilia a icana
0.90
0.337ns
70
20
Alcho nea co di olia
0.75
0.297 ns
100
29
Alcho nea co di olia2
0.71
0.310 ns
70
7
Panicum epens
0.75
0.299 ns
33
20
Maca anga heudelo ii
0.82
0.092.
55
0.3
Mic odesmis keayana
0.84
0.072.
33
0.1
Ou a ea la a
0.82
0.126 ns
33,3
0.2
My ian hus libe icus
0.84
0.402 ns
33
0.1
Scle ia dep essa
0.81
0.143 ns
33.3
0.2
Mo inda lucida
0.84
0.087
33
0.7
Aspilia a icana 2
0.84
0.408 ns
70
0.2
S ep ogyna c ini a
0.84
0.077
33
0.2
Newbouldia lae is
0.84
0.097
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3.3. Mul i a ia e Analysis o Soil P ope ies Using Hea maps and Hie a chical Clus e ing
3.3.1. Da a S uc u ing and Ecological In e p e a ion
The hie a chical analysis shows an o ganiza ion in o h ee dis inc g oups (indica ed by he g ayscale colo code)
de ining soil e ili y g adien s ela ed o he dis ibu ion o plan species.
G oup 1 (High Phospho us A ini y and Fe ile Soils)
Species such as P. epens, A. a icana, M. opposi i olius, and N. lae is show a s ong co ela ion wi h high P₂O₅
concen a ions, as e idenced by he high in ensi y (b igh ed) a eas in he hea map. These species a e cha ac e is ic o
soils en iched in a ailable phospho us, gene ally associa ed wi h inc eased mine aliza ion o o ganic ma e and ac i e
nu ien u no e . I is wo h highligh ing he absence o P. epens and N. lae is among he bioindica o plan s iden i ied
by he indica o alue index (IndVal), while hey a e highligh ed by he hea map analysis.
G oup 2 (A ini y wi h Mode a ely Fe ile Soils)
A subg oup includes species such as Ch omolaena odo a a, Maca anga heudelo ii, and Cen osema pubescens, which
exhibi an in e media e ela ionship wi h CEC and o ganic ma e . These species a e o en ound in soils unde going
ecological ansi ion, demons a ing mode a e e ili y and a pa ial balance be ween mine aliza ion and nu ien
s o age.
G oup 3 (Indica o s o Poo and Deg aded Soils)
The species Xylopia ae hiopica, Cec opia pel a a, Fun umia a icana, and Us e ia guineensis a e s ongly co ela ed wi h
low CEC and OM alues (deep blue a eas). These species a e indica o s o hea ily leached soils, wi h educed nu ien
e en ion capaci y and lowe biological ac i i y. Thei p esence sugges s en i onmen s subjec o ad anced e osion and
deg ada ion p ocesses.
A g ouping can be iden i ied in which My ian hus libe icus and Oplismenus hi ellus show an a ini y o soils ich in
OM and CEC. These species a e o en p esen in soils wi h ac i e o ganic dynamics, cha ac e ized by e icien e en ion
o nu ien ca ions. Ou a ea la a, on he o he hand, is associa ed wi h mo e acidic soils, cha ac e ized by a lowe
a ailabili y o exchangeable bases. This species could hus be an indica o o soils subjec o in ense leaching p ocesses,
o en associa ed wi h ad anced deg ada ion o chemical e ili y in opical soils. The p esence o Scle ia dep essa in
a eas cha ac e ized by a iable P₂O₅ con en s sugges s ole ance o con as ing edaphic condi ions. The absence o a
s ic ly linea ela ionship wi h phospho us highligh s he complexi y o he in e ac ions be ween ege a ion and
biogeochemical p ocesses in luencing P bioa ailabili y in hese ecosys ems.
3.3.2. Co ela ions and Implica ions o Soil Quali y
The in e ac ion be ween physicochemical a iables and bioindica o species highligh s se e al ecological dynamics:
• Phospho us (P₂O₅) is he mos disc imina ing ac o , s ongly co ela ed wi h ce ain ni ophilous species such
as P. epens and Mallo us opposi i olius, sugges ing a di ec ela ionship be ween P a ailabili y and plan
s uc u e.
• O ganic ma e (OM) and CEC play a cen al ole in g oup di e en ia ion, wi h a no able in luence on he
dis ibu ion o seconda y o es species such as Maca anga heudelo ii and C. pubescens.
• Low pH alues a e associa ed wi h pionee and acid- ole an species such as X. ae hiopica and C. pel a a,
sugges ing ha acidi y is a limi ing ac o in ce ain soil sys ems.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(02), 997-1006
1003
Figu e 2 Hea map and hie a chical clus e ing dend og am depic ing he g ouping o edaphic a iables wi h simila
dis ibu ion pa e ns ac oss plan species
The hea map was gene a ed using an op imized R sc ip implemen ing he co 2.dis unc ion, which u ilizes he squa ed
Pea son co ela ion coe icien (R²) as a dis ance me ic o hie a chical clus e ing. The colo g adien ep esen s he
ela i e magni ude o each a iable: blue indica es alues below he mean, whi e co esponds o alues nea he mean,
and ed signi ies alues abo e he mean. Da ke shades deno e highe absolu e alues.
4. Discussion
Analysis o co ela ions be ween bioindica o species and soil quali y, based on he Indica o Value Index (IndVal),
highligh s di e en ial associa ions be ween lo is ic composi ion and soil cha ac e is ics. The esul s ob ained con i m
ha some species a e eliable ma ke s o soil e ili y condi ions, while o he s e lec mo e cons ained en i onmen s,
cha ac e ized by lowe nu ien a ailabili y and al e ed soil physicochemical p ope ies. These obse a ions
co obo a e he wo k o Du êne and Legend e [27], who ini ially de eloped he IndVal Index as a obus ool o
iden i ying indica o species ac oss en i onmen al g adien s.
Species such as Mallo us opposi i olius and Cen osema pubescens display high IndVal alues, sugges ing hei s ong
a ini y o soils wi h a s able s uc u e and highe o ganic ma e con en . This co ela ion is in ag eemen wi h he
wo k o De Cáce es and Legend e [18], who demons a ed he use ulness o IndVal o link he p esence o plan species
o speci ic edaphic condi ions.
The absence o P. epens and N. lae is among he bioindica o plan s iden i ied by he indica o alue index (IndVal),
while hey a e highligh ed by he hea map analysis, is explained by he ca ego ical na u e o IndVal, which a o s species
s ic ly associa ed wi h a speci ic soil g oup. In con as , mul i a ia e analysis e eals ecological g adien s and co-
occu ences be ween plan communi ies and soil p ope ies, hus highligh ing mo e nuanced ela ionships. The e o e,
P. epens and N. lae is can be conside ed as po en ial bioindica o species o soil quali y, al hough hei associa ion is
no exclusi e enough o be de ec ed by he IndVal app oach alone.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(02), 997-1006
1004
Fu he mo e, he species Ch omolaena odo a a, Cec opia pel a a and Fun umia a icana a e also associa ed wi h
in e media e quali y soils, demons a ing hei ole in he egene a ion p ocesses o dis u bed soils [28]. On he o he
hand, some species, no ably Xylopia ae hiopica and Us e ia guineensis, a e s ongly indica i e o deg aded soils,
cha ac e ized by low nu ien e en ion capaci y and inc eased suscep ibili y o e osion phenomena. These esul s a e
in line wi h he esea ch o Ba ios [29], who highligh ed he impo ance o plan bioindica o s in he assessmen o
opical soil deg ada ion. Fu he mo e, he p esence o Oplismenus hi ellus in a cons ained en i onmen sugges s
ole ance o edaphic s ess condi ions, which co obo a es he obse a ions o He ick e al. [30] on he use o indica o
plan s o cha ac e ize soil esilience o an h opogenic dis u bances.
O he species, howe e , do no show a s a is ically signi ican co ela ion wi h soil quali y g adien s. Newbouldia lae is,
al hough associa ed wi h poo soils, displays a ela i ely mode a e IndVal alue and a non-signi ican p- alue, which
limi s i s use as a eliable indica o . This lack o a s ong ela ionship be ween some species and soil p ope ies was also
no ed by Gillison and B ewe [31], who no ed ha some plan s, al hough ecologically ele an , may no espond di ec ly
o he pa ame e s measu ed in a quan i a i e assessmen amewo k.
The obse ed disc epancies be ween indica o species can be a ibu ed o he complex in e ac ions be ween soil
dynamics, cul i a ion p ac ices and local mic oclima ic condi ions. These esul s highligh he impo ance o con inuing
in es iga ions on plan bioindica o s o be e unde s and hei ole in sus ainable soil managemen and ecosys em
conse a ion. In his con ex , he in eg a ion o complemen a y me hods, such as he analysis o species unc ional
di e si y and spa ial modeling o edaphic p ope ies, could imp o e he accu acy o ecological diagnoses and guide
es o a ion s a egies o deg aded soils.
Mul i a ia e analysis o soil p ope ies using hea maps and hie a chical clus e ing highligh s dis inc g oupings o
indica o plan species acco ding o opog aphic g adien s and associa ed soil cha ac e is ics. These esul s sugges a
de e mining in luence o pedogene ic p ocesses on species dis ibu ion, no ably due o a ia ions in soil e ili y induced
by di e en ial e osion and nu ien edis ibu ion. This spa ial s uc u ing was desc ibed by Bo ů ka e al. [32], who
demons a ed ha associa ions be ween plan composi ion and soil p ope ies esul om he supe posi ion o na u al
and an h opogenic p ocesses in luencing nu ien dynamics.
Panicum epens, Aspilia a icana, and Mallo us opposi i olius a e p edominan ly ound in soils cha ac e ized by e y
low OM con en and mode a e CEC. This dis ibu ion indica es apid OM mine aliza ion, leading o accele a ed nu ien
elease, pa icula ly phospho us. These obse a ions align wi h he wo k o Ryzho a e al. [33], who showed ha in OM-
poo soils, in ensi ied biological ac i i y p omo es apid decomposi ion and hus educes he soil's capaci y o s o e
ca bon and e ain nu ien s. Simila ly, he indings o Ga cia-Pausas and Pa e son [34] indica e ha accele a ed OM
cycling in hese soils could be a ibu ed o a dominance o mic oo ganisms specialized in he apid deg ada ion o
o ganic compounds.
The es ablishmen o hese species in he su ace ho izons (0-20 cm) e lec s an ac i e dynamic o decomposi ion and
ecycling o OM, cha ac e is ic o sys ems subjec o equen dis u bances such as e osion and leaching. This dynamic
is con i med by he s udies o Be he e al. [35], who highligh ha e osion accele a es he decomposi ion o o ganic
ma e by modi ying i s chemical and physical s abili y, and by Bon an i e al. [36], who demons a ed ha he su ace
soils o e oded a eas p esen mo e in ense biogeochemical cycles, a o ing he apid elease o nu ien s. Thus, hese
esul s highligh he impo ance o in e ac ions be ween soil p ope ies and indica o ege a ion in unde s anding soil
quali y dynamics.
5. Conclusion
This s udy highligh s he undamen al ole o bioindica o plan species in assessing and moni o ing soil quali y. The
in eg a ion o he Indica o Value Index (IndVal) and mul i a ia e analyses iden i ied speci ic associa ions be ween
lo is ic composi ion and soil pa ame e s, e ealing s uc u ing en i onmen al g adien s ha in luence plan species
dis ibu ion. The esul s show ha Mallo us opposi i olius and Cen osema pubescens a e eliable indica o s o soils
ich in o ganic ma e and wi h a high ca ion exchange capaci y (CEC), e lec ing a ela i ely s able ecosys em wi h
nu ien e en ion dynamics a o able o e ili y. In con as , he p esence o Xylopia ae hiopica, Cec opia pel a a, and
Us e ia guineensis indica es acidic and deple ed soils, cha ac e ized by a low CEC and inc eased ulne abili y o e osion
and nu ien leaching. The in eg a ion o spa ial models and unc ional di e si y o bioindica o plan s could imp o e
he accu acy o ecological diagnoses and guide conse a ion and es o a ion s a egies o deg aded soils. Adap ed
managemen , in eg a ing soil conse a ion and OM main enance p ac ices, could con ibu e o imp o ing he esilience
o hese ecosys ems in he ace o en i onmen al cons ain s and inc easing an h opogenic p essu es.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 27(02), 997-1006
1005
Compliance wi h e hical s anda ds
Disclosu e o con lic o in e es
The e a e no con lic s o in e es .
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