Dataverse World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
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Assessing the adoption of Agroforestry innovations by farmers inolved in tree domestication programm in southern Cameroon.
No full textThe purpose of this study was to determine the adoption rate of agroforestry innovations by farmers in Southern Cameroon. 720 farmers were sampled across three agroecology zones of Cameroon (Moist forest zone of monomodal rainfall, Moist forest of dimodal rainfall and the western highlands zones). Semi structural questionnaire was used for information collection and this questionnaire was structured into five sections namely: general information, household characteristics, agricultural characteristics, adoption of agroforestry innovation and trees on farms
Replication data for: Diagnosis of soil nutrient constraints in small-scale groundnut (Arachis hyopaea L.) production systems of Western Kenya using infrared spectroscopy
No full textWise decision-making on resource allocation and intervention targeting for soil management cannot rely solely on trial and error methods and field observations used by small-scale farmers: cost-effective soil fertility survey methods are needed. This study aimed to test the applicability of infrared spectroscopy (IR) as a diagnostic screening tool for making soil fertility recommendations in small-s
cale production systems. Soil fertility survey of 150 small-scale groundnut farms in western Kenya was conducted using a spatially stratified random sampling strategy. Soil properties examined were pH in water (pH
w), total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), extractable phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and texture. These properties were calibrated to mid-infrared (MIR) diffuse reflectance using partial least square regression (PLSR). Cross-validated coefficient of determination (r2) values obtained from calibration models were > 0.80 for all properties, except P and K with 0
.66 and 0.50 respectively. Soil nutritional deficiencies were evaluated using critical nutrient limits based on IR predictions and composite soil fertility indices (SFIs) developed from the soil properties using principal component analysis. The SFIs were calibrated to MIR soil spectral reflectance with cross-validated
r2 values > 0.80. The survey showed that 56% of the groundnut farms had severe soil nutrient constraints for production, especially exchangeable Ca, available P and organic matter. IR can provide a robust tool for farm soil fertility assessment and recommendation systems when backed up by conventional reference analyses. However, further work is required to test direct calibration of crop responses to spectral i
ndicators and to improve prediction of extractable P and K tests.
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Replication data for: Calorific value of Prosopis africana and Balanites aegyptiaca wood: Relationships with tree growth, wood density and rainfall gradients in the West African Sahel
No full textProsopis africana and Balanites aegyptiaca are native tree species in the West African Sahel and provide wood for fuel, construction and other essential products. A provenance/progeny test of each species was established at one relatively dry site in Niger, and evaluated at 13 years. Gross calorific value of the wood was determined for a random sample of trees in each test: gross CV and CVm3 = gross calorific value in MJ kg−1 and MJ m−3, respective
ly. The major objectives were to determine if gross CV was positively correlated with wood density and tree growth, and if gross CV and/or CVm
3 varied with rainfall gradients in the sample region. Provenances were grouped into a drier and more humid zone, and correlations were computed among all trees and separately in each zone. Results indicated that gross CV was not significantly correlated with density in either species. Gross CV was positively correlated with growth of P. africana (but not B. aegyptiaca) only in the drier zone. Gross CVm3 was positively correlated with growth of b
oth species, and the correlations were stronger in the drier zone. Multiple regressions with provenance latitude, longitude and elevation indicated that provenance means for gross CV increased, in general, from the drier to the more humid zones. Regressions with gross Vm
3 were not significant. Results are compared with earlier research reports from the provenance/progeny tests and with other tropical hardwood species; and practical implications are presented for tree improvement and conservation programs in the region
Replication data for: Rubber agroforests in a changing landscape: analysis of land use/cover trajectories in Bungo district, Indonesia
No full textLand cover has changed dramatically in Sumatra Island, Indonesia over the last decades. Rampant deforestation has drawn a lot of attention due to the potential global impact of the associated carbon stock loss on climate warming and the erosion of biodiversity. The various land uses which replace natural forest are not equally benign to the environment. Rubber agroforests (jungle rubber) are extensive traditional cropping systems. They have been singled out by previous studies as the best land use option
for biodiversity conservation once forest is cleared, while allowing farmers to make a living from the deforested land. But how sustainable are complex agroforestry systems themselves? Are they not just a transient stage in the overall process of land use intensification? We studied land cover change in the Bungo district, in Jambi, Sumatra (Indonesia), a 4,550 km2 area. Large forest tracks have been cleared since the early seventies and replaced by rubber plantations, oil palm plantations and other agricultural land-uses. Landsat images taken between 1973 and 2005 were used to quantify the trends of land cover changes in the area. During that period forest cover fell from more than 75% to 30%. Simultaneously monoculture plantations increased from 3% to over 40%, while rubber agroforests, decreased from 15% to 11%. Strikingly most of the rubber agroforests present in 2005 where absent in1973 while most of the rubber agroforests present in 1973 had been replaced by more intensive agricultural systems by 2005. Rubber agroforests are now the ultimate reservoir of the original lowland forest biodiversity since natural forest has almost completely disappeared from the peneplain. They are however under growing pressure themselves and have incurred an accelerated conversion rate to more intensive agricultural systems in the period 2002 to 2005. This is the land cover change database for Bungo District which are used to produce the land cover change and trajectories analysi
Replication data for: Cereal yield response to conservation agriculture practices in drylands of West Africa: A quantitative synthesis.
No full textTo address the decline in crop productivity in the drylands ofWest Africa, many initiatives have focused on combatin
g soil degradation. Various practices including (1) parkland trees associated with crops, (2) coppicing trees, (3) green manure, (4) mulching, (5) crop rotation and intercropping, and (6) traditional soil/water conservation have been tested. The present study attempts to provide a comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of existing reports on the effect of conservation agriculture (CA) practices on crop yield response in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Out of a total of 155 reports found, 63 fulfilled all the appropriate criteria to be included in the meta-analysis of the effect of various conservation agriculture practices on the yield response of maize, millet and sorghum. The study revealed significant variability in cereal yield response (and hence risk) with all the practices examined. Despite the variability, the mean effects of the six CA practices on crop yield were more positive than negative except with parkland trees. However, for this last practice, species like Faidherbia albida exerts more positive impact on crop yield. Yield increases relative to the control were higher with green manure and mulching than with coppicing trees and parklands. Increases in yield in the six CA practices were higher on low to medium productivity sites for maize, millet and sorghum. Coppicing trees and rotations improved yields when the rainfall is greater than 800mm whereas the opposite happens with parkland and soilewater conservation measures. Mulching performed better when the rainfall is less than 600 mm. The variability (and hence yield risks) calls for more understanding of the processes and application of appropriate tree management to reduce crop yield losses while still providing products (fruits, leaves, wood, etc.) and services (soil carbon building up) for long-term sustainability of the production systems in drylands of West Africa
Replication data for: Potensi Varitas Lokal dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Bibit Rambutan di Aceh: Kajian Terhadap Morfologi Bibit pada Stadia Awal Pertumbuhan
No full textThe growth of three rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) varieties, Glu, Nona and Balerang were evaluated at the agricultural experimental station of Syiah Kuala University, Darussalam Banda Aceh used Randomized Complete Design with 9 replications. The seeds were collected from a community plantation in Padang Tiji District. The growth parameters measured were seedling height, stem diameter, leaf area, fresh weight of seedlings, dry weight of seedlings, root length, root number, and root weight. Measurements were made at 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after planting. Analysis of variance and least significant difference tests were used to analyze the growth data. Results show that Glu variety had greater diameter growth, dry weight biomass, number of fine roots and leaves area then other varieties; supporting local beliefs and practice that Glu is a better rootstock
Replication data for: Pengelolaan Lanskap Multifungsi: Pendekatan Alternatif Dalam Konservasi Tumbuhan Kayu
No full textForest conversion to monoculture systems has caused the disappearance of 95%, leading to the absence of the natural timber regeneration due to intensive management practices, particularly through weeding activities. Yet, 45% (100 species) of forest timber species could only grow up to sapling stage, i.e did not survive to higher level grows. The species composition had significantly changed, from forest species to pioneer species. On the other hand, keeping secondary grows after fire event and practicing agroforestry systems would enable to maintain approximately 51% (32 species) of forest species vegetation. The results showed that by integrating land use systems (comprising monoculture plantation, secondary forest and agroforestry system as a mosaic landscape) enabled to conserve at least 222 timber sapling species, 73 pole species and 63 tree species through maintaining seed availability, allocating sites for species to regenerate, and providing corridors for animals and seed dispersers to pass by. All timber species within 24 plots of 20 m x 100 m across Lubuk Beringin village (Bungo District, Jambi Province) covering remnant forest in protected forest, rubber agroforest of 60 years old, secondary forest of 30 and 10 years old and rubber monoculture of 30 years and 13 years old had been identified consisting of tree stage (more than 30 cm in diameter), pole stage (5-30 cm in diameter using 5 m x 40 m), sapling stage (less than 5 cm and more than 30 cm in height using 1 m x 4 m plots). Species identification was conducted at the
Herbarium Bogoriense, Bogor
Resources, land management and Household survey in Efoulan lanscape: a rural council in the southern region of Cameroon.
No full textThe study was carried out to with principal objective to characterize household on land and resources management in Efoulan council south region of Cameroon. 104 questionnaires were administered in 104 households and these questionnaires were divided into 8 sections as follows: general information, household characteristics, household occupation, land management, outcome of resources, forest degradation, deforestation, climate change, REDD and climate change adaptation
Baseline information on Rural institutions in East Africa
No full textThis data contains basic information about the project population. The study sought to profile all groups present in 6 project sites: Embu and Bungoma in kenya, Kapchorwa and Masindi in Uganda and Lushoto and Pemba in Tanzania. The data collected were then used to select groups the project was to work in the 6 sites and was also used in coming up with a maturity assessment tool
Antecedent and effect of group sales on supply chain performance: The Case of Kola production and Marketing in Cameroon
No full textKola plays an important role in the livelihoods of people in the North West region of Cameroon. However, the potential benefits of the product have not been fully exploited due to many problems including ineffective marketing techniques. In an attempt to address this problem, some organisations like the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) have facilitated the producers of kola to embark on group sales as a means to improve their marketing performance. During the first 5 years of implementation of this programme, there was no clear picture about the impact of the marketing intervention programme on the marketing performance of the farmers. This paper discusses the main antecedents and producers’ perception of the effects of the group sales on the supply chain performance of kola producers in Cameroon. Using open ended interviews with 50 farmers, the paper reveals that group sales has the potential to improve kola supply chain performance through increase in prices, quantity harvested and sold, and increase in number of producers involved in the group