Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry
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Assessment of Threats to Survival of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, Akwa Ibom State
No full textDifferent climes are endowed with a myriad of biodiversity resources, ecosystem services and functions suited to sustenance of lives and providing assorted raw materials for sustainable development if effectively managed. There is global outcry about disappearing biodiversity and mismanaged fragile ecosystems. Human endeavours are strongly implicated in the resulting distorted ecological balance. This study therefore sets out to examine the cause and effects of the declining singular gazetted forest reserve in Akwa Ibom State, the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve (SCFR). Threats to survival of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) were studied qualitatively (a combination of field observation and engagement with key stakeholders of SCFR). Community forest occupational user-groups, corporate players and the public sector were engaged. Outcomes of the study suggest that among other factors, institutional weakness and unsustainable consumption patterns may be of primary concern in tackling further degradation. A quick concerted intervention is required to reposition SCFR for alignment with global sustainable development goal 15, ecosystem restoration and climate change adaptation
Trees Mensuration in Forestry and Wildlife Nursery Plantation University of Maiduguri Campus, Borno State, Nigeria
No full textA study was conducted at the premises of Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Nursery Plantation University of Maiduguri situated in Sahel Savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. The area is hot and dry for a greater part of the year. The vegetation is typically Sahel Savannah consisting of mainly grasses with few drought resistance trees, total counting was used in other to obtain appropriately result of the measurements. The research was aimed at determine the optimum level growth of trees, assessment of different parameters and volume of trees and ascertain used to reduced environmental desertification. The species of trees assessed were Neem, Khaya and Gmelina, the measurement taken were DBH, Basal Area, Total height, Merchantable height, Bole height, Crown depth having mean values of 21.42 m, 404.73 m2, 9.24 m, 1.71 m, 1.74 m and 7.5 m for Neem, khaya: 6.69 m, 35.27 m2, 4.53 m, 1.91 m, 2.69 m and 2.87 m. Gmelina: 27.58 m, 599.61 m2, 10.93 m, 1.69 m, 2.40 m and 8.58 m respectively and volumes for Neem, Khaya and Gmelina were 34.20 m3, 19.87 m3 and 30.03 m3 respectively. From the result obtained, it was observed that Azadiracta grow higher and has larger volume than other species, followed by Gmelina and Khaya in terms of volumes. In terms of mean DBH, Basal Area, Total height, Merchantable height, Bole height and crown dept obtained on the tree species Gmelina has the highest in terms of the determination of the measured followed by Neem and Khaya obtained from the results. There is need for World Bank to partner Nigerian Government and with forestry and wildlife department for the inventory of specific trees within the sub-region and also highlight the public to grow specific tree to reduce desertification within the savannah region of the Nigerian. This indicates that Azadiracta indica (Neem) species grow very well in region for afforestation also Khaya and Gmelina are used as anti-desertification control properties and as a good Carbon-dioxide Sink
Residents’ Perception of Ecotourism in Ratargul Freshwater Swamp Forest of Bangladesh
No full textAims: The study aims at finding out the perceived economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism by residents who live near the Ratargul freshwater swamp forest.
Study Design: The study is qualitative and empirical which focuses on the residents’ attitudes towards the economic, environmental and socio-cultural changes due to ecotourism.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the villages near the Ratargul freshwater swamp forest located in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District of Bangladesh. The study period was from November 2014 to February 2015.
Methodology: A total of 301 respondents were interviewed from the residents using a formulated questionnaire consisting of nine demographic variables and thirty-five impact items classified into economic, environmental and socio-cultural categories. A five-point rating scale was incorporated into each impact item for both belief and evaluation components. The sampling method was arbitrary (non-probability sampling) but without preconceived bias.
Results: The study shows the impact items regarding economic and socio-cultural aspects secured higher ranks by possessing higher mean values. Contrarily, items associated with the environmental aspect possessed lower mean values. These findings denote that residents favored both the economic and socio-cultural impacts of tourism as they positively perceived both impacts, whereas the environmental impact was least favored by the residents. Besides, it was also found that resident’s attitudes towards ecotourism vary with the variations in income, occupation, and gender.
Conclusion: The study concluded that residents acknowledge economic and socio-cultural benefits conveyed by ecotourism without sacrificing environmental and aesthetic aspects. Further studies are recommended to find out the trends of ecotourism and its impacts on residents and the forest
An Overview on the Importance of Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. Ex Del.: A Review
No full textEgyptian mimosa or Acacia nilotica or Vachellia nilotica is a leguminous and complex species tree of great socio-economic and ecological significance in the world. It is called as Bagaruwa in Hausa and is a great source of livelihood. A. nilotica is an agroforestry and urban forestry tree species, which provide fruits, timber, fodder, gums and other services such shade, beauty, soil improvement. It is used for climate change mitigation, adaptation and phytomediation. Every part of the plant is medicinal. This paper reviews the perception and usage on taxonomy, socio-economic and ecological importance of Acacia nilotica. This attempted to compile and document information on different aspects of this important plant species and its potential uses from the literature. The study provides a base line information about the societal and ecological benefit derived from Egyptian mimosa, which is constitutes a management tool for the conservation of the species. This study recommends the use of Acacia nilotica trees in planting programmes
Assessment of Income Generation from Non-timber Forest Products in Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria
No full textNon-Timber Forest Products are important sources of income that can supplement farming and/or other activities to the rural dwellers. In spite of this, its potential to improve the standard of living and generate income to rural dwellers has not been known in Awka-North Local Government Area. The study was carried out from January to August, 2017. The study identified the variety of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) available to rural households, the level of income generated by households from these available Non-timber forest products and constraints to Non-timber forest products collection in the study area. Three towns; Achalla, Amansea and Mgbakwu were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique. A total of 100 copies of structured questionnaires were administered to obtain information from respondents who engaged in NTFPs based activities in the selected towns. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and 5-point Likert Type Scale. The study revealed that fish, snail, bush meat, spices, firewood, fruits, seeds and nuts, vegetables and honey are the Non-timber forest products available to the rural dwellers. Monthly income of ₦61,000 and above was generated by the rural dwellers who engaged in NTFPs sales. Lack of marketing, bush burning, deforestation, NTFPs scarcity, over exploitation, transportation, bad road network, distance from forest, market price of other products and unfavourable government policies are the constraints confronting the respondents in the collection of Non-timber forest products in the study area
Awareness on Drudgery Reducing Farm Technologies for Gender Equity
No full textAgriculture in India is moving away from animal driven to machine driven. Apart from tractors and power weeders which are used by farmers, there are farm tools and implements that can be used by farm women to reduce their drudgery with increased productivity. The present study made an attempt in introducing the set of 14 drudgery reducing farm tools and implements i.e. sapling transplanter, sickle/kurpi, long handle weeders, three types of harvest bags, ring cutter, finger guards, milking stand cum stool, head load manager, seed cum fertilizer bag, seed placement tube and fertilizer broad caster. A capacity building training programme was conducted to the farm women for exposure about the improved set of farm tools and implements. The implements were given to village secretary for use of this equipment by a group of 50 farm women and data were collected from them regarding the awareness about the technologies before and after the capacity building training programmes. Adoption levels were assessed after completion of a crop season. It was found that partial awareness was there about the improved equipment before training and cent per cent awareness was in the random selected group after the training programs. About 62 per cent of the sample has moderately adopted the given technologies. The study indicated for educating the farmers about the importance of drudgery reducing technologies, training them in using the farm implements and providing them to have an easy accessibility to enhance the adoption level. Custom hiring centres can be the solution to house the improved technologies suitable for farm women so that they can be used on rotation basis
Wheat Variety Improvement for Climate Resilience
No full textHigh temperature stress unfavorably affects plant growth and reduces grain yield (GY). This study was conducted with an aim to identify the terminal heat tolerance of one hundred and two wheat genotypes with three checks. They were sown under normal (non-stress) and late (stress) conditions at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Tarahara; RARS, Nepalgunj and National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Bhairahawa, Nepal. The trial was sown in Augmented design during 2014/15 winter season as a Nepal heat tolerance wheat screening nursery (NHTWSN). Grain yield, maturity, stress susceptibility and tolerant indices were estimated to assess the heat tolerance of the genotypes. Combined analysis among the tested wheat lines (102 new entries + 3 checks) showed that KACHU//KIRITATI/WBLL1 ((Heat tolerance index (HTI) = 1.78) possessed the highest level of heat tolerance, followed by SLVS /3/ CROC_1/ AE.SQUARROSA (224)// OPATA/5/ VEE/LIRA//BOW/3/BCN/4/KAUZ/6/ 2*KA/NAC//TRCH (HTI=1.57) while SUP152/VILLA JUAREZ F2009 (HTI=0.83) appeared to be the least heat tolerant. Correlation analysis showed that yield under stress environment had positive (r=0.083) and significant (p<0.05) association with that of non-stress environment. Grain yield (Kg/ha) under both environments had significant positive correlation with mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP) and HTI. Thirty seven wheat genotypes possessing heat tolerance will be considered in further heat tolerance trial and can also be used directly in varietal development and in the crossing program to breed more heat tolerant genotypes
Adoption of Agroforestry Practices by Arable Farmers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria
No full textThe study examined the level of adoption of agroforestry practices among arable farmers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data was collected from 100 randomly selected farmers with the use of structured questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, level of adoption of agroforestry practices, types of agroforestry practices adopted, factors influencing the willingness of farmers to adopt agroforestry practices and constraints faced by the farmers in adopting agroforestry-based farming. Data was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and probit model. The study found that male (78.00%) dominated farming activities in the study area, the majority (96.00%) of the farmers is in the age group of 21-60 years, most of the farmers (87.00%) are educated and the majority (76.00%) of them had more than 5 years farming experience. The study revealed that the adoption of agroforestry practices is high (79.00%) in the study areas. Retention of trees on farmland was mostly adopted (31.00%) while shifting cultivation is the least adopted (5.00%) agroforestry practice in the study area. The result of the probit model analysis showed that farm size (1.1122), farming experience (0.0231) and access to credit (0.1103) were the factors that significantly influence farmers’ willingness to adopt agroforestry practices at 10.00% probability level in the study area. However the level of adoption of agroforestry practices in the study area was hampered by constraints such as high capital intensive nature of agroforestry practices (87.00%), poor extension service (80.00%), inadequate capital (77.00%), poor technical know-how of agroforestry practices (45.00%), land tenure system (36.00%) and lack of access to credit (13.00%). The study suggests that to enhance the adoption level of agroforestry practices among farmers in the study area, improved agroforestry extension services should be provided to farmers; workshops, seminars and symposia should be organized for adequate training of farmers to understand the techniques of agroforestry; and farmers should be encouraged to form cooperative societies so that they can have access to credit facility to boost their capital
Effect of Three Pregermination Treatments on the Growth of Emerging Seedlings of Acacia auriculiformis (Cunn. Ex. Benth)
No full textThis research was carried out to determine the effect of some pregermination treatments on the seeds of Acacia auriculiformis as it affects growth. The treatments involve the effect of sulphuric acid (concentration and time), mechanical scarification (at different sides), and hot water treatment (volume and time). Split plot design was used for acid treatment and hot water treatment, while Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used for mechanical scarification. The experiment was carried out at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Parameters assessed include; plant height, stem height, leaf number. Acid treatment was carried out using different concentration of sulphuric acid (98%, 50% and 20%) and different treatment time (2 minutes, 5 minutes and 10 minutes). Concentration of acid was significant (p<0.05) on plant height, stem height and leaf number, higher concentration of acid (98%) enhanced morphological parameters of Acacia auriculiformis. Result showed that mechanical scarification significantly affect stem height (p<0.05), however, while mechanical scarification does not significantly affect plant height, the highest mean plant height (8.98 cm) was observed in seeds that were mechanically scarified at the micropyle; early germination of seeds was also noticed. Hot water treatment was carried out using different volume of water (50 cl and 1 litre) and varying treatment time (2 minutes, 4 minutes, 6 minutes and 10 minutes), the treatment showed no significant difference, and this method is not favourable for breaking seed dormancy of Acacia auriculiformis. Result showed that 100% germination could be achieved within seven (7) days when seeds are mechanically scarified at the micropyle, circumference, distal-end and micropyle+distalend, provided the seeds are viable. This research conclude that, acid scarification using H2SO4 at 98% concentration is the best method yielding better morphological parameters in Acacia auriculiformis, followed by mechanical scarification (especially when scarified at the micropyle)
Evaluation of Insecticide-treated Sugarcane Setts against Subterranean Termites at Sargodha
No full textTermites contribute significantly to most of world's ecosystems. They are of great importance in recycling woody and other plant materials and their tunnelling efforts help to aerate the soil. The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides against the termites in a sugarcane field. The dipping of setts in insecticides solution @ 1%, 0.50%, 0.25% was carried out and the planted setts was observed for damage/infestation. In order to select a site for an experiment in village Dhero Sial of Sargodha District. Five samples were taken from field at 4 different places. Area of sample was one sq. meter and population of termites was noted. Later on, poplar stakes were erected to confirm the population of termites after 10-15 days. As the chemical treatment is the only remedy for the crops attacked by subterranean termites available to the farmers in Pakistan the evaluation of these six insecticides showed that most effective is the Fipronil both in reducing the population density and damage on the cones